Planetary Altimetry

Abstract

The article describes a method for determining the coordinates of points on the planet's surface if there is a laser altimeter and a photogrammetric system on board the spacecraft. Both devices are linked and coordinated in the spacecraft system. There is a possibility of converting the ranges of the laser altimeter into a photogrammetric coordinate system associated with the front nodal point of the camera. The altimeter marks points on the planet's surface. These points are recorded by the photogrammetric system in the image. Measurements of the coordinates of the points of the images make it possible to determine the spatial configuration of points on the planet's surface in real scale. Spatial configuration is analogous to a hanging geodetic network. An estimate is given of the errors caused by the movement of the spacecraft relative to the planet. The field of application of the method in terrestrial conditions is described.