Visible characteristics of space-based targets based on bidirectional reflection distribution function

Abstract

A precise modeling method of visible characteristics of the space-based target was presented based on bidirectional reflection distribution function (BRDF). The background characteristics of the space-based target were represented to build models of direct solar radiation and reflected radiation of the Earth based on blackbody radiation theory. The geometry characteristics of the target were analyzed to establish a surface equation of each surface based on its body coordinate system. The material characteristics of the target surface were described by introducing a BRDF model which considers the character of surface Gauss statistics and self-shadow and is obtained by measurement and modeling in advance. The relative positions of the space-based target, the background radiation sources and the observation platform were determined based on coordinate conversion to judge contributing surface of the target to observation system. Then a mathematical model on visible characteristics of the space target for the given optical system was built by summing reflection components of all the surfaces. Simulation of visible characteristics of the space-based target in orbit was achieved according to its given geometrical dimensions, physical parameters and orbital parameters. The results show that the method is effective for analysis on visible characteristics of the space-based target when single reflection is considered and its surface is regularly described in a surface equation, which provides a way to real-time calculation of visible characteristics of the space-based target.