SISPO: Space Imaging Simulator for Proximity Operations

TL;DR

SISPO is a physically-based, Blender-based imaging simulator designed for small solar system body fly-by and planetary surface missions, supporting realistic rendering, optical effects, and mission planning tools.

Contribution

The paper introduces SISPO, a novel, open-source simulation environment that enhances small-body mission design with realistic imaging and optical effect modeling.

Findings

Supports realistic surface rendering with Blender Cycles

Includes models for dust and gas optical effects

Simulates common image aberrations and distortions

Abstract

This paper describes the architecture and demonstrates the capabilities of a newly developed, physically-based imaging simulator environment called SISPO, developed for small solar system body fly-by and terrestrial planet surface mission simulations. The image simulator utilises the open-source 3D visualisation system Blender and its Cycles rendering engine, which supports physically based rendering capabilities and procedural micropolygon displacement texture generation. The simulator concentrates on realistic surface rendering and has supplementary models to produce realistic dust- and gas-environment optical models for comets and active asteroids. The framework also includes tools to simulate the most common image aberrations, such as tangential and sagittal astigmatism, internal and external comatic aberration, and simple geometric distortions. The model framework's primary objective is to support small-body space mission design by allowing better simulations for characterisation of imaging instrument performance, assisting mission planning, and developing computer-vision algorithms. SISPO allows the simulation of trajectories, light parameters and camera's intrinsic parameters.