Radiation Engineering

Taking into account the radiation constraints is crucial for the success of an electronic equipment development space project. Radiation assurance consists of all activities undertaken to ensure that space system electronics complies with all specifications after exposure to space radiation.

A Radiation assurance’s key phase is the components’ selections, which hold sufficient tolerance to radiation effects, right from the design phase.

TRAD’s radiation engineering department proposes to accompany its clients throughout the whole radiation assurance process:

Step 1: Well define the environment

Depending on the project’s mission – orbit, duration, etc. – the radiation environment will be different. TRAD proposes to accompany its customers in the understanding of models and environmental specifications in terms of flux and particle spectra.

Our engineers calculate, using OMERE * software, the dose curves and each particle’s fluxes for a specific mission. These data will prove to be necessary inputs for the subsequent radiation analysis.

* OMERE is a software developed by TRAD with the CNES’ support – More about OMERE

Step 2: Radiation effects on components and materials

Ionizing and non-ionizing SEE & DOSE analysis

Based on our experience, our team is able to quickly identify the sensitive components within an EEE list, for which it will be necessary to proceed with a radiation study.

For SEE, we list the types of destructive and non-destructive singular events to which each component will be potentially sensitive (SEL, SET, SEU, SEFI, etc.).

Once sensitive components are identified, we look for the dose characterization data or SEE referenced for these components. If available and applicable, this data will allow our customer to determine the degradation of its radiation-related components, either for dose (TID &TNID) and/or singular effects (SEE).

Our experts can also calculate the singular events rate for different environmental configurations, and the system availability rate.

If the component’s sensitivity is not acceptable to the system or no radiation data are available or applicable, we assist our customers in the search for alternative references.

When no radiation data are available for a component that is difficult to replace, it is advisable to carry out a radiation test on the component or material.

Step 3: Calculation of the dose received by the component / material during the mission

Once the design dose has been identified – a dose for which component degradation is acceptable to the system – for each TID and TNID sensitive component, it is necessary to determine the dose received by these components during the mission. Thus, it will be possible to compare these two values and to adjudicate on the component’s sensitivity.

We propose to our customers to model the whole equipment in 3D and to calculate, via the software FASTRAD, the dose received by each sensitive component during the mission.

The calculated dose will take into account all the elements providing shielding to each component considered – the equipment box, the satellite structure, the surrounding equipment, etc. – thus making possible to obtain a more realistic and more precise value.

Such calculations could justify the use of components that are less qualified for radiation, COTS components for exemple, even for short missions, at low doses (cubesat, nanosat, etc.) or in low orbit.

If the dose received by the component during the mission is too great, our experts also accompany our customers to identify the best solution to reduce the dose received. Indeed, FASTRAD will allow to optimize the system’s shielding in order to effectively reduce the received dose while minimizing the addition of mass caused.

FASTRAD is a reference software in the space industry, many entities currently use it:

AIRBUS D&S, ESA, NASA-JPL, OHB, THALES ALENIA SPACE, etc.

Our research and development activities

Our expertise gives us the opportunity to carry out research for specific space projects, studies on systems, new products, new effects, etc. Similarly, we can contribute to your responses to tender as a partner for all issues related to radiation.

For more than 20 years, we have been collaborating with major organizations in the space industry. For research or development projects, we are publishing studies as author or co-author. Our presence in scientific congresses allows us to lead technological watch and provide adapted response to all your specific needs – Find our list of publications here

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