Simulation analysis approach for the integration time of deep-space navigation optical cameras

Abstract In deep space exploration tasks, owing to the dissimilar lighting environment between outer space and Earth ground, the integration time of the navigation camera needs to be evaluated during its design or mission execution. This article puts forward an integration time analysis approach based on computer graphics simulation technology, which is capable of analyzing the rational integration time range in accordance with diverse environments and tasks. Our method encompasses two pipelines: “radiometric calibration” and “scene simulation”. The scene simulation pipeline can simulate the image of the camera in the virtual scene based on the coefficients obtained from radiometric calibration. In contrast to previous methods, the evaluation process proposed in this article is able to simulate different task scenarios and conduct “one-case-one-meeting” analyses for different mission objectives and instrumentations.