METODI DI ANALISI PER OSSERVAZIONI STEREO DI SUPERFICI PLANETARIE E LIBRAZIONI

BepiColombo mission will provide Digital Terrain Models of the surface of Mercury by means of the stereo channel of the SIMBIO-SYS (Spectrometer and Imaging for MPO BepiColombo Integrated Observatory SYStem) imaging package onboard. The work presented in the thesis can be divided in two main topics: optimizing the acquisition planning of SIMBIO-SYS and creating Digital Terrain Models of the surface of the planet from stereo pairs. The thesis presents a novel approach for the creation of higher resolution stereo products using the high-resolution channel of SIMBIO-SYS. Being the camera rigidly integrated with the spacecraft, this latter must be tilted to acquire stereo pairs necessary for the 3D reconstruction. A novel approach for the creation of stereo products with SIMBIO-SYS is evaluated, considering images of the High spatial Resolution Imaging Channel (HRIC) and Stereo imaging Channel (STC) together: this approach proves to be more accurate in the reconstruction of Digital Terrain Models in comparison to the normal method with only STC images, and results particularly suited for the exploration of the polar regions of the planet. A new method for image simulation and stereo reconstruction is presented, where the input data are calculated by means of SPICE kernels and chosen as closely as possible to the real mission parameters. Different simulations are executed changing the illumination conditions and the stereo angles. The Digital Terrain Models obtained are evaluated and an analysis of the best acquisition conditions is performed, helping to improve the image acquisition strategy of BepiColombo mission. In addition, a strategy for the creation of a mosaic from different images acquired with the high resolution channel of SIMBIO-SYS is explained, giving the possibility to obtain tridimensional products of extended targets. Finally, some insights about the use of high resolution Digital Terrain Models for the study of planetary surfaces are given, focusing in particular on the libration experiment.