Synthetic/Sparse Aperture Imaging Techniques

High resolution imaging of objects in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) has long been a goal. With increased interest in Space Situation Awareness, new of Safety of Flight concerns, and an increase in commercial satellites the ability to image satellites has become even more important. The ability to form high resolution images of RSOs is limited mainly by atmospheric turbulence. In image correlography, the object is illuminated with two polarization states, and an estimate is made of the autocorrelation of the object’s brightness function. If two beams of different polarization states are used for illumination, then estimates can be made of the autocorrelation functions of the individual beams and the cross-correlation function from both beams with the atmospheric affect canceled. Formation of an image, then, requires that the object function be recovered from estimates of its correlation functions. Polaris Sensor Technologies is proposing to develop a Pupil plane Imaging Correlography Sensor PICS) Array that is an array of Stokes vector detectors. Such an array is scalable to large aperture sizes. As part of the Phase I, we will design the PICS Array and examine optical, electronic, and mechanical issues associated with the large arrays.