METHOD FOR DETERMINATION OF EARTH ALBEDO Russian patent published in 2009 - IPC G01N21/55 

FIELD: physics.

SUBSTANCE: method for determination of the Earth albedo includes serial installation of equipment sensitive to registered radiation above reflecting surface at least in two space positions. Moments of the Sun presence in zenithal area are defined over spacecraft (S) equipped with one or several solar cells (SC) and moving along circular orbit around Earth, in two serial turns of orbit. Whenever the Sun is staying in zenithal area over S passing subsolar point of the first orbit turn, SC are turned into working position that corresponds to alignment of normal to their working surface with direction to the Sun. Whenever the Sun is staying in zenithal area over S passing subsolar point of the following orbit turn, SC is turned in position that corresponds to alignment of normal to their working surface with anti-sun direction. Values of current from SC are measured in every of described SC positions. Earth albedo value A is measured according to formula: A=(I₂-I₁)/(I₁-KI₂), where I_1,2 are current values from SC measured at the moments of subsolar points passing, accordingly, at the first and subsequent turns of orbit; K is specified coefficient of output power of back surface of SC panels relative to output power of their working surface.

EFFECT: simplification of the Earth albedo measurement.

3 dwg