Application of BRDF for modeling on the visible reflection characteristics of spatial targets

A modeling method is presented based on visible reflection characteristics of space targets. Bidirectional reflection distribution function (BRDF) can describe spatial reflection characteristics and spectral characteristics of target surface material effectively. According to surface appearance of space targets and background radiation environment, a mathematical model on reflection characteristics of space targets in visible band is built in terms of radiation theory by appropriate models of BRDF. A simulation calculation is made based on orbital parameters. The calculation results indicate that the solar sail can not be neglected when the optical characteristics of the target are analyzed because its irradiance on the entrance pupil of the detector is only one order less than that of the target body. Reflection characteristics of space targets have the relation with the real-time position of the sun, the earth and the target, as well as with its geometrical shape and surface material and so on. Simulation results proved the model is correct.