Active Polarimetric Measurements for Identification and Characterization of Space Debris

Abstract

A bench-top polarimeter (λ = 1064 nm) is used to measure the polarimetric Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function (BRDF) of several common spacecraft materials in both bistatic and monostatic geometries. The Mueller matrix and polarimetric properties of each material were estimated as a function of the illumination and viewing angles. The findings expand upon previous research suggesting that active polarimetry may be useful for the remote characterization and identification of space debris.

Short timescale imaging polarimetry of geostationary satellite Thor-6: The nature of micro-glints

“…The polarisation properties of spacecraft materials have been studied numerically and in the lab (e.g. Pasqual & Cahoy, 2017;Beamer et al, 2018;Peltoniemi et al, 2021). In principle, the problem can be reversed, and the satellite's orientation and physical parameters of reflection can be empirically determined from well-sampled multi-colour polarimetric lightcurves (polarisation degree and angle), assuming some basic shape properties and geometry (aided by lightcurve analysis, e.g.…”