David Wellems (Applied Technology Associates), David Bowers (Applied Technology Associates)
Keywords: Imaging
Abstract:
For an increasingly cluttered space environment, having detailed pre-launch image information that can be used to predict space object appearance is essential. Both laboratory and extrapolated imagery may provide important diagnostic information in the event of a satellite malfunction or assist in space object discrimination . In the visible and NIR wavelength ranges, simple setups that reduce unwanted background light and that mimic solar glint and diffuse earth shine are described. Numerical methods for extrapolating either high resolution laboratory satellite imagery or unresolved spectral data to space-like scenarios are presented. Image extrapolation, which is performed in the spatial frequency and spectral domains, requires that the camera modulation transfer function (MTF), and that source and sensor characteristics be known. Image data would be referenced to a known reflectance standard and realistic laboratory illumination geometries would be investigated.
Date of Conference: September 12-15, 2007
Track: Imaging