METHOD OF DETERMINING DEFORMATION OF SPACECRAFT HULL IN FLIGHT Russian patent published in 2016 - IPC B64G1/22 

FIELD: space.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to space engineering. In the method for determining deformation of a SC hull in flight fixed is a camera on the inner surface of the SC window in a preset position, as reference points selected are points on the outer surface of the SC within the photocamera field of view, and fixed are directions from the camera to the reference points. During the flight measured is acute angle α between the normal to the plane tangent to the outer surface of the SC in the reference point and the direction towards the Sun. Acute angle β is measured between the optical axis of the photocamera and the direction towards the Sun. To achieve the required illumination of the reproduced reference point the SC orientation is changed until angle α reaches the specified value, and angle β reaches the value exceeding the value of the camera angle of view. Performed is a series of images of the reference point for a selected interval of flight. Obtained images of the reference point are successively overlayed on each other and the reference point images shift on the photography is used to determine the SC hull deformation.

EFFECT: technical result of the invention is reliable and accurate determination of the SC hull deformation.

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