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Satellite Radiation Effects
The Applied Technical Services (ATS) Family of Companies provides testing and analysis for satellite radiation effects on electronic equipment going into aerospace.
Radiation Risks to Satellites
Satellites in space face many operational risks due to radiation. Some of these hazards may occur instantly, while others happen over a long duration. Single event effects (SEEs) fall into the first category, occurring when ionizing particles deposit charges as they travel through electrical equipment. These charges are large enough to affect susceptible devices in space. While such effects can be minor, others (including single event latch-up (SEL), single event burnout (SEB), single event upset (SEU), and more) can cause errors in device outputs. Total ionizing dose (TID) and displacement damage dose (DDD) can also cause radiation effects, resulting in irreversible, cumulative damage.
How to Prevent Satellite Radiation Effects
There are several steps manufacturers can take to prevent radiation from impacting satellites’ performance. First, regarding materials and structures, manufacturers must avoid directly exposing polymers to space radiation by covering them with multi-layer insulation (MLI). Next, removing all “mouseholes” from the spacecraft by closing out any openings is imperative to stopping plasma from entering the chassis. Finally, following all electrical grounding practices helps conductors avert any electrical isolation.
Manufacturers can also minimize radiation effects on satellites by designing products for parameter degradation, filtering voltage references, using comparators, using error correction codes (ECC), using rad-tolerant hardware watchdogs, and decreasing voltages. These practices assist manufacturers in selecting materials and designing components that make products more resilient against radiation effects. Mission success depends on aerospace manufacturers collaborating with a radiation effects testing facility to ensure their product’s safety and efficiency.
Our Radiation Effects Services
Our team of experts conducts extensive radiation testing on materials and components, providing detailed analyses for designers and manufacturers. We offer a comprehensive testing process that allows clients to develop their satellites with the assurance that they will be ready to face any harsh radiation environment.
Our state-of-the-art lab simulates harsh radiation environments through modeling and statistical analyses, allowing our experts to calculate the consequences satellites will face in highly radioactive space environments.
Quality Assurance
We adhere to stringent Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) requirements, including testing methods, guidelines, and standards for radiation effects testing on satellites. We follow these testing standards to ensure our facility and lab meet all reliability, safety, and recognized measurement standards, as well as logistical system alignment requirements.
Contact Us
Contact our Family of Companies to schedule your next satellite radiation effects testing today!
