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Abstract
A mathematical model to simulate point cloud generated by LLRI
instrument onboard Chandrayan-1
Abhishek Kumar Singh
student
Indian Institute Of Technology, Kanpur.,
Email: abhii@iitk.ac.in
Dr. Bharat Lohani
Assistant Professor
Indian Institute Of Technology, Kanpur
Email: blohani@iitk.ac.in
To investigate lunar topography, the Indian moon mission (Chandrayaan-1) is expected to be launched next year. One of the principal objectives of the mission is to produce a three dimensional topographic map to help in interpretation of lunar landforms and to generate the gravitational model for moon. This will be achieved by using the LLRI (Lunar Laser Ranging Instrument) onborad Chandrayan-1. In this paper, an attempt has been made to mathematically simulate the data generated by LLRI for lunar surface. The simulator is flexible enough to replicate the point clouds produced by LLRI over the mathematically generated moon surface as a whole and over some specific areas as well. At the core of the simulator lies a mathematical model which simulates LLRI orbit and firing of laser pulses. Further, the model solves for intersection of these pulses with the simulated lunar surface. The simulator provides the distribution of laser point cloud over moon surface during its life time, in general. It can also generate the distribution of point clouds for user defined space and time segments. The simulator is helpful in investigating the performance of the LLRI beforehand and in the interpretation of the point cloud. The final outcome of this product is a model showing the moon, orbit of LLRI around it, and point clouds in the form laser footprints over the surface.
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