METHOD OF DETERMINING ALBEDO OF EARTH'S SURFACE Russian patent published in 2015 - IPC G01N21/55 

FIELD: physics, navigation.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to space engineering. The method of determining the albedo of the Earth's surface includes turning solar panels of a spacecraft moving on near-circular orbit around the Earth, measuring current from the solar panel and determining the albedo of the Earth's surface therefrom. The method further includes measuring the altitude of the orbit of the spacecraft from which the half-angle of the Earth disc Q visible from the spacecraft is determined; selecting the time interval equal to the duration of turning the solar panel by 180° around the axis parallel to the plane of the solar panel, and during which the angle between the radius vector of the spacecraft and the direction towards the Sun ≤Q; at the beginning of time interval, turning the solar panel until the normal to the working surface of the solar panel aligns with the direction towards the zenith and measuring current from the solar panel I₁; turning the solar panel until the normal to the working surface of the solar panel aligns with the direction towards the nadir and measuring current from the solar panel I₂; determining the range of values of the height of the Sun over the plane of the local horizon in said time interval. The value of the albedo is determined using a formula.

EFFECT: invention enables to determine the albedo for different variation ranges of the angle of incidence of solar radiation on a reflecting surface during rotation of the solar panel by 180°.

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