Simulation of a Fourier telescopy imaging system for objects in low Earth orbit

Software has been developed for the SAINT program that simulates the operation of a Fourier Telescopy imaging system that could potentially be used to create images of a satellite in low earth orbit. Fourier telescopy uses multiple beams that illuminate the target with a fringe pattern that sweeps across it due to frequency differences between beams. In this way the target spatial frequency components are encoded in the temporal signal that is reflected from the target. The software simulates the propagation effects and target interaction effects that would be present in a real system. This enables the creation of a simulated received signal as a function of time. A particular problem was accurately modeling the appearance of the target as its aspect changes during a rapid transit over the transmitter and receiver. A novel reconstructor has been developed that compensates for atmospheric phase fluctuations affecting the large number of beams transmitted simultaneously (~10). The reconstructor solves for hundreds of image Fourier components simultaneously, permitting rapid reconstruction of the image.