Kira Abercromby (ESCG/Jacobs Sverdrup). Jennifer Okada (Boeing LTS, Inc.), Michael Guyote
(Boeing LTS, Inc.), Kris Hamada (Boeing LTS, Inc.), Edwin Barker (NASA Johnson Space Center)
Keywords: NROC, Non-Resolved Object Characterization
Abstract:
Determining the material type of objects in space is conducted using laboratory spectral reflectance measurements from common spacecraft materials and comparing the results to remote spectra. This past year, two different ground-truth studies commenced. The first, FORMOSAT III, is a Taiwanese set of six satellites to be launched in March 2006. The second is ANDE (Atmospheric Neutral Density Experiment), a Naval Research Laboratory set of two satellites set to launch from the Space Shuttle in November 2006. Laboratory spectra were obtained of the spacecraft and a model of the anticipated spectra response was created for each set of satellites. The model takes into account phase angle and orientation of the spacecraft relative to the observer. Once launched, the spacecraft are observed once a month to determine the space aging effects of materials as deduced from the remote spectra. Preliminary results will be shown of the FORMOSAT III comparison with laboratory data and remote data while results from only the laboratory data will be shown for the ANDE spacecraft.
Date of Conference: September 10-14, 2006
Track: Non-Resolved Object Characterization