Speaker
Description
One of the focuses of TIRVOA (ESA Contract No. 4000132353/20/NL/CRS/hh) project is to collect, evaluate and compare open-air with vacuum conditions through tests, simulation, and image rendering data in the thermal infrared band. The gathered information can help to improve the application of thermal infrared cameras in vision-based navigation for active debris removal.
Tests have been implemented in a closed and temperature-controlled experiment container, containing a small satellite mock-up that was equipped with representative material, like solar panel elements, external MLI, etc.) The temperature evolution of the mock-up was continuously recorded by several thermocouples during illumination and eclipse phases, which were implemented using a quartz reflector. A series of thermal infrared images were also taken. Vacuum conditions are planned to be set up through simulation. The geometric math model together with the thermal math models of the mock-ups after certain conversion steps can be used for thermal IR image rendering with the help of PANGU software (high-res real-time image rendering toolset).
