Rapid construction of 3-D Satellite models from limited amounts of 2-D imagery

Our innovative solution is a multi-level approach which: a) provides useful information in real-time and more in-depth information on the timescale of a satellite overpass, b) is robust to the unique character of satellite imagery, and c) degrades gracefully when information is incomplete or unavailable. We believe all information can be beneficial, so that even if the attitude cannot be determined, other metrics such as object size, optical cross section, spin rate, and glint detection can still be provided.When the attitude can be determined, and the image registered to a 3D model, advanced details like the solar panel angle and material reflectivity can be automatically extracted and used to improve the knowledge base.