METHOD OF DETERMINATION OF GROUND ALBEDO Russian patent published in 2015 - IPC G01N21/55 

FIELD: measurement equipment.

SUBSTANCE: solar battery (SB) of a space vehicle (SV), moving along the near-circular orbit around the Earth is rotated, the values of current from SB are measured, and using them the values of the ground albedo are determined. In addition an angle between the Sun direction and SV orbit plane β is measured. The moment of passing of near-sun point of tS orbit turn is determined. SB is rotated until coincidence of the normal line to SB working surface with zenith direction and a current from SB I1 is measured. SB is rotated until coincidence of the normal line to SB working surface with nadir direction and a current from SB I2 is measured. The current from SB is measured at the moments respectively $$t_{\mathrm{1,2}}=t_s\mp \frac{\Delta t}{2},$$ where Δt is a duration of SB rotation to the angle 180° around the axis parallel to SB plane. The value of the Sun altitude above the local horizon plane in the named moments of measurement of currents from SB is determined and fixed.

EFFECT: enlarging functional capabilities.

1 dwg