The Effects of Space Radiation on Electronics
Radiation in Space
Objects in space experience different types of radiation than we have on Earth’s surface. There are three primary sources of harmful radiation in space: particles emitted by the sun, particle clouds of galactic cosmic radiation, and particles trapped in Earth’s magnetic field. These particles are atoms that were pulled apart as they traveled at extremely high speeds through space, separating the nucleus and electrons. All these charged particles are sources of ionizing radiation that can damage electronics in space.
How Space Radiation Affects Electronics
Ionizing radiation can move through materials, altering them when it passes through. This usually involves knocking the electrons out of the materials’ atoms, thereby ionizing them.
All electronic components and devices are susceptible to multiple types of space radiation effects. Total ionizing dose (TID) effects are the time-dependent degradation of electronics as they are continuously exposed to ionizing radiation. The cumulative damage can cause decreased functionality, threshold shifts, increased device leakage, and greater power consumption in electronics.
A single event effect (SEE) usually occurs when a heavy ion deposits a charge in a device that affects its functionality. High-energy protons may also cause SEEs in sensitive electronics. Depending on several factors, SEEs can result in frozen bits, gate rupture, and operating currents exceeding device specifications.
Both types of effects require unique design solutions when preparing electronics for use in space.
Protecting Technology from Space Radiation
ATS’ family of companies provides radiation testing services that help clients determine if their devices are sufficiently hardened against radiation. Radiation-hardened (rad-hard) components are meticulously designed and manufactured to resist susceptibility to radiation damage. We conduct radiation tests to several standards, including:
- MIL-STD 750 and 883: TM 1017, 1019, 1020, 1021, 1023, 1080
- ASTM F1892 and F1192
- ESCC 22900 and 25100
- EIA/JESD57
Our diverse skillset allows us to help clients prepare their products for the harsh conditions they will face, protecting critical technology and the lives relying on it.