Visible imaging characteristics of space targets oriented to on-orbit observation

ABSTRACT

This research presents the modelling and simulation method of the visible imaging characteristics for a space target. The surface of the space target is divided into facets in order to improve the modelling precision. Based on the consideration of the mixing-material of the solar panel, the measuring method of the equivalent BRDF is proposed, from which we achieve the measurement and modelling of the equivalent BRDF of the solar panel. To reflect the operate mode of the solar panel pointing to the sun, a calculation method of panel normal vector is proposed based on the principle of maximum light efficiency. The simulation of the detection signal is carried out according to the OTF and the photoelectric response model. The results show that the proposed modelling method can simulate the imaging characteristics of space targets with a complex structure, as well as correctly reflect the movement characteristics of the on-orbit satellite.

KEYWORDS:

• Space optics
• space target
• imaging characteristics
• on-orbit observation

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (grant no. HIT.NSRIF.201630) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant no. 61705052).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China: [Grant Number No. 61705052].