SATDOS Reference Dosimeter Platform

SATDOS is a miniaturized payload designed for nano-satellites, such as CubeSats, aiming to capture the radiation environment in space and quantify radiation effects on electronic systems. Developed by Seibersdorf Laboratories with cutting-edge technology and expertise, SATDOS offers a compact and efficient solution for assessing the radiation environment in space. SATDOS-1, specifically tailored for the Austrian CubeSat project PRETTY, prioritizes efficiency, safety, and sustainability.

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SATDOS reference dosimeter platform for nanosatellites to assess the effect of space radiation on the spacecraft’s electronic systems.

 

 

1. Assessment of Total Ionizing Dose (TID): SATDOS-1 measures the total radiation dose received by the PRETTY satellite during its one-year mission. This capability is crucial for evaluating radiation effects on electronic components and ensuring the reliability of satellite systems.
    
2. Continuous Dose Monitoring: SATDOS-1 continuously monitors dose rates in orbit. Recorded data allows for comprehensive mapping of Earth's radiation environment, highlighting temporal and spatial characteristics of space weather and facilitating responses to events such as solar storms.
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3. Detection of Single Event Effects (SEE): SATDOS-1 features a Single Event Upset (SEU) monitoring system comprising commercial SRAM (Static Random Access Memory) chips characterized by the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN). Two different SRAM types are utilized to distinguish between particles of varying energies.

Space Radiation Environment

The space environment is rife with radiation hazards emanating from various sources. The sun emits charged particles, whose intensity can be significantly amplified during solar activities, posing a direct threat to spacecraft and astronauts. Additionally, galactic cosmic particles incessantly bombard spacecraft and astronauts during space travel. Charged particles trapped in Earth's magnetic field create the Van Allen radiation belts, posing risks to spacecraft traversing or approaching these regions.

 

Effects of Space Weather

Space weather events, such as solar storms and solar particle eruptions, can damage or impair electronic systems aboard satellites and spacecraft. A better understanding of space weather aids in the development of protective measures, enhancing spacecraft operation safety. Radiation resistance testing of satellite components is essential for mission reliability and safety. Seibersdorf Laboratories conducts radiation resistance tests as a commercial service for the Austrian and international space industries, developing experimental and numerical methods to investigate radiation effects on components and systems in diverse radiation fields. With their expertise and experience, Seibersdorf Laboratories' experts significantly contribute to the success of national and international space missions.

 

• Housing & Spot Shielding: Robust 1mm thick aluminum housing provides protection during handling and efficient EMC shielding during operation. Additional spot shielding on the PCB offers shielded and unshielded radiation sensors to distinguish contributions from electrons and protons to the total dose.
• Single Event Latch-Up Protection: SATDOS-1 includes a power bus switch to safeguard against destructive latch-up events.
• Data Storage: 1 Gbit (128 MB) SPI flash memory enables storage of measurement data for several weeks before transmission to the ground station.
• Temperature Sensor: An I2C temperature sensor provides continuous temperature measurements of the SATDOS-1 platform in orbit, ranging from -20°C to +60°C.
• RADFET Radiation Sensors: Utilizes highly durable and robust RADFET radiation sensors, enabling accurate dose determination even when powered off.
• PC/104 Interface: A standardized CubeSat hardware interface allows for easy integration into common satellite platforms.
• Microcontroller: Powered by a 72 MHz ARM Cortex-M3 microcontroller, offering full control over the reference dosimetry platform. SATDOS-1 operates autonomously.
• FGDOS Radiation Sensors: FGDOS sensors, with high sensitivity and resolution and SPI interface, provide dose rate mapping in orbit, such as the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA), an area with increased dose rate in orbit.
• SRAM Radiation Sensors: Utilizes commercial SRAMs to measure Single Event Upset (SEU) frequency in orbit. The SRAMs are characterized by CERN, with two different types used to distinguish between particles of different energy.

 

Conclusion

Understanding and mitigating the effects of space radiation are essential for the safety and reliability of satellites and space missions. SATDOS-1, developed by Seibersdorf Laboratories, offers a sophisticated solution for assessing the radiation environment in space, enabling comprehensive monitoring and analysis of radiation effects on electronic systems. With SATDOS-1, space missions can navigate the challenges of space radiation with confidence, ensuring mission success and spacecraft safety.

 

Interested in SATDOS for your satellite?

Contact us​​​​​​​ to discuss how SATDOS can be integrated into your satellite project and provide valuable insights into the radiation environment of your mission.