SOIM User Manual v6.0

Abstract

This document will describe the Simulator for Operation of Imaging Missions (SOIM) software used to simulate any Imaging System on board of Missions which take advantage of the Spice Kernels (technology). The document will provide documentation and a description of the input and output files.

The experience accumulated by INAF in International Space Missions has demonstrated the impact and the scientific return of Imaging tools. In all mission phases, these instruments have required the development of tools to simulate acquisitions, to verify and optimize the observation strategy, and to define the essential parameters for Operations. The Simulator for Operation of Imaging Missions (SOIM) will be a generic software tool for simulating such payloads. It was developed thanks to the contribution of INAF-OAPD; INAF-IAPS; CNR-IFN and will represent a transversal activity to different research lines favoring the optimization of performances and, with the collaboration of the scientific group, the validation of scientific requirements.

At the current date the simulator was applied to 5 instruments: -the three Monitor Cameras (MCAM) on board of BepiColombo Mission -the CaSSIS camera onboard of ExoMars 2016 -the instrument Spectrometers and Imagers for MPO BepiColombo Integrated Observatory SYStem (SIMBIO-SYS) onboard of BepiColombo mission.