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Abstract The apparent brightness of satellites is calculated as a function of satellite position as seen by a ground-based observer in darkness. Both direct illumination of the satellite by the Sun as well as indirect illumination due to reflection from the Earth are included. The reflecting properties of the satellite components and of the Earth must first be estimated (the Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function, or BRDF). The reflecting properties of the satellite components can be found directly using lab measurements or accurately inferred from multiple observations of a satellite at various solar angles. Integrating over all scattering surfaces leads to the angular pattern of flux from the satellite. Finally, the apparent brightness of the satellite as seen by an observer at a given location is calculated as a function of satellite position. We develop an improved model for reflection of light from Earth’s surface using aircraft data. We find that indirectly reflected light from Earth’s surface contributes significant increases in apparent satellite brightness. This effect is particularly strong during civil twilight. We validate our approach by comparing our calculations to multiple observations of selected Starlink satellites and show significant improvement on previous satellite brightness models. Similar methodology for predicting satellite brightness has already informed mitigation strategies for next-generation Starlink satellites. Measurements of satellite brightness over a variety of solar angles widens the effectiveness of our approach to virtually all satellites. We demonstrate that an empirical model in which reflecting functions of the chassis and the solar panels are fit to observed satellite data performs very well. This work finds application in satellite design and operations, and in planning observatory data acquisition and analysis.
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Analysis of Optical Single-Event Transients in Integrated Silicon Photonics Mach-Zehnder Modulators for Space-based Optical Communications
Integrated SiPh MZMs are exposed to pulsed-laser-induced TPA, and the sensitivity to single-event transients is measured. A numerical model to predict the SET effects on SiPh MZM is developed, as well as a simulation path to validate the model.
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- Award ID(s):
- 2052808
- PAR ID:
- 10416783
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- IEEE Nuclear & Space Radiation Effects Conference
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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