Tamara E. Payne, Applied Optimization, Stephen A. Gregory, Applied Optimization, Anthony Dentamaro, Applied Optimization, Markus Ernst, Applied Optimization, Jeffrey Hollon, Applied Optimization, Adam Kruchten, Applied Optimization, Anil B. Chaudhary, Applied Optimization, Phan D. Dao, AFRL/RVBY
Keywords: Albedo-area, non-resolved object characterization, models, simulations
Abstract:
Although direct measurements of the projected areas of various Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO) satellite facets are impossible without high-resolution imaging, estimates of the albedo-Area (aA) product lead to the possibility of inferring the area. Such size estimates are an integral part of its identity. We are engaged in parallel development of two methods for calculating aA for the body/communication antennae structures and one method for the solar panels. We have previously reported on the Two Facet Model (2FM) method for body aA, and here we discuss a method based on differences between new observations and a baseline catalog that has been constructed from the GEO Observations with Longitudinal Diversity Simultaneously (GOLDS) data. We report on evaluations of the 2FM and differential method (DM) algorithm results. We also discuss a new method of estimating solar panel aA by fitting new data that include specular glints. All of these measurement methods are compared to models and simulations that serve as a proxy for ground truth. Because of the partially directional nature of the composite Bi-directional Reflectivity Distribution Function (BRDF) of all bus-mounted appendages, variance of body aA results is expected to be significant. Short-term and long-term variance of the derived aAs will also be discussed.
Date of Conference: September 19-22, 2017
Track: Non-Resolved Object Characterization