Description
The Albedo Model is a model that determines the reflectivity of light from a planet or other celestial body. It computes the solar flux reflected at a particular location, considering the instrument’s unit normal and field of view (FOV) in addition to its position. This model is used for thermal analysis and power budget calculations on spacecraft operating near planetary bodies.
Example Use Cases
- Thermal Analysis: Compute the albedo heat flux on spacecraft surfaces for thermal control system design.
- Solar Panel Sizing: Account for reflected sunlight when estimating power generation near planetary bodies.
Module Implementation
The Albedo Model attaches to a Physical Object and provides albedo flux information through an output message. It requires a reference to the Sun’s planet state message for the reflection calculation.
Properties
| Property | Description |
|---|---|
| Albedo | Albedo acting on the instrument considering the unit normal and FOV in addition to the position |
| Flux | Albedo flux at the instrument considering the unit normal and FOV in addition to the position |
| FOV | The field of view of the instrument |