TEC-EPS Final Presentations: Space environment and radiation effects

15 May 2018, 08:50 → 16 May 2018, 20:15 Europe/Amsterdam

Einstein (ESA/ESTEC)

The TEC-EPS Final Presentation Days, organised by ESA's Space Environments and Effects section, will take place on the 15^th and 16^th of May, 2018 at ESTEC in the Einstein conference room. The two days will cover recent results from ESA's Space Environment R&D activities on radiation monitors development and space environment modelling, analysis and simulation tools.

Tuesday, 15 May

09:00 → 09:35 Introduction & Executive summary

Speaker: Dr Petteri Nieminen (ESA)

09:35 → 12:20 Detectors developments

09:35 Multi-Needle Langmuir Probe (M-NLP) development

The multi-Needle Langmuir Probe (m-NLP) instrument delivered under ESA Contract No. 4000109398/13/NL/AK is based on the development of a new Langmuir probe, utilizing the new m-NLP measurement technique which allows for high-resolution F-region plasma (electron) density measurements along the orbit trajectory (gradients, turbulence, irregularities). By this, the F-region plasma characteristics can be mapped around the globe. This is of particular relevance to assess ionospheric plasma effects on communication and GNSS signal propagation. A complete m-NLP instrument (Electronics Unit, Boom System and Sensors), has been developed, manufactured, tested and qualified. The EQM was accepted and delivered to ESA in April 2018.

Speaker: Dr Tore André Bekkeng (EIDEL)

Slides C951-01516-025_m-NLP_-_Final_Presentation_-_Bekkeng.pdf

10:15 MIDAS: Highly Miniaturised ASIC Radiation Detector (Status report)

Speaker: Mr Haris Lambropoulos (ADVEOS)

Slides MIDAS_presentation.pdf

10:30 Three-Dimensional Low Voltage Silicon Detectors

The recent revival of space exploration implies an increased interest in space travels that are associated with many challenges and risks, mostly related to the ever-changing adverse space weather. Radiation of any types can be detrimental to both astronauts and the equipment on-board. The capability of monitoring radiation levels reliably in space is therefore becoming a critical aspect for space missions. Many existing radiation monitoring systems are bulky and require operation at high voltages and powers, for example, the Tissue Equivalent Proportional Counter (TEPC). Other systems are often fabricated using off-the-shelf components, including Si diodes for radiation detection, but lack the necessary radiation tolerance to ensure sensor survival throughout the entire mission. The 3D silicon sensor technology provides unique solutions to the limitations of the existing technologies for radiation monitoring in space. This new technology was introduced to mitigate the effects of radiation damage in High Energy Physics Experiments. Through state-of-the-art micro-machining, 3D technology decouples the inter-electrode spacing from the thickness of the silicon sensor. Columnar electrodes are etched through the silicon bulk, allowing for inter-electrode spacing that is independent of the bulk thickness. The reduction in electrode spacing results in ultra-low operating voltage (<10 V), fast sensor response (< 1ns), and increased radiation hardness. Design, fabrication, and testing of a novel 3D silicon sensors tailored to space applications and manufactured at SINTEF MiNaLab are here reported. Electrical characterisation shows excellent fabrication yield. The functional characterisation of the sensors was carried out at SINTEF with a laboratory grade radioactive source (241Am, alpha) and with protons of energies in the range 70 to 202 MeV at the TIFPA proton therapy centre in Trento, Italy. The results of the functional characterisation are very satisfactory and allowed to identify the best sensor implementation amongst the ones tested. A brief analysis of the findings and recommendations for the use of 3D sensors in future space activities will also be discussed. A further development plan will be presented, aiming at a portable, real-time on-line micro-dosimeter for space applications realised in collaboration with the Centre for Medical Radiation Physics at the University of Wollongong, Australia.

Speaker: Dr Marco Povoli (SINTEF MINALAB)

Slides TEC-EPS_May2018_Povoli.pdf

11:30 HMRM: Highly Miniaturised Radiation Monitor

Measurements of the energetic particles in the near-Earth space are of crucial importance for space weather research and operations. These measurements are required in order to monitor the health of the spacecraft itself and to mitigate the technological effects of space weather, which are damaging to the satellite electronics and human health. Provision of energetic particle data is required by many customers and such measurements are necessary on L1/L5 SWE missions, and on the GEO telecommunication and EP orbit raising satellites. Here we provide a status report on the development of a miniaturised energetic particle detector, the Highly Miniaturised Radiation Monitor (HMRM), by the UK consortium led by the STFC, under Phase A/B ESA contract. The instrument is based on the use of CMOS Active Pixel Sensors integrated on a bespoke ASIC. We will briefly present initial instrument concept and overall programme overview and then concentrate on the results of the detector’s latest radiation tests and discussion of potential ways forward.

Speaker: Dr Yulia Bogdanova (STFC-RAL)

Slides HMRM_May_2018_v3.pdf

12:00 MIRAM - Miniaturized Radiation Monitor (status report)

Speaker: Dr Carlos Granja (Advacam)

Slides ESA_TEC_EPS_+_MIRAM_+_carlos_+_bb_+_posp_+_heijne_+_jj_+_v04.pdf

11:00 → 11:30 Coffee break

12:20 → 14:00 Lunch

14:00 → 15:15 Models developments

14:00 Hellenic Evolution of Radiation data processing and Modelling of the Environment in Space (HERMES)

Speakers: Antonis Tsigkanos (National Kapodistrian University of Athens), Mr Constantinos Papadimitriou (IASA), Dr Ingmar Sandberg (SPARC), Prof. Ioannis Daglis (National Observatory of Athens), Mr SIGIAVA AMINALRAGIA-GIAMINI (SPARC)

Slides Hermes_FPD_2018.pdf

15:00 GALEM: data exploitation of new GALileo Environmental Monitoring units (Status report)

Speaker: Dr Ingmar Sandberg (Space Applications & Research Consultancy (SPARC))

Slides GALEM_FPD_2018_SANDBERG.pdf

15:15 → 15:45 Coffee break

15:45 → 17:10 Tools developments

15:45 Non-Ionizing Energy Loss (NIEL) calculation software and verification

Speakers: Prof. Massimo Gervasi (University of Milano Bicocca), Mr Mauro Tacconi (Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca), Dr Pier Giorgio Rancoita (INFN sez. di Milano Bicocca)

Slides PGR_Slides_ESA_15_5_2018.pdf

16:25 Next Generation Space ENVironment Information System (SPENVIS-NG)

Speakers: Dr Neophytos Messios (BIRA-IASB), Mr Stijn Calders (BIRA)

Slides SPENVIS-NG_TEC-EPS_FPD_May_2018_nmessios.pdf

Wednesday, 16 May

10:00 → 10:40 Detectors developments

10:00 Platftorm Magnetometers for Space Weather Monitoring

Magnetic field measurements are an essential tool for space weather and space physics. Many satellite missions carry fluxgate magnetometers, as part of their attitude control subsystem. In this study, we have investigated the feasibility of using data from such non-dedicated magnetometers for space weather use. We have analysed the housekeeping telemetry data from the GOCE and Swarm missions, in order to investigate the feasibility of using their platform data for mapping and monitoring high-latitude field-aligned currents. In addition, we have analysed the magnetometer data delivered by the diagnostics subsystem on LISA Pathfinder, and compared it to the commonly used IMF data from the space weather observatories WIND, ACE and DSCOVR, that were stationed near the Sun-Earth L1 point at the same time.

Speaker: Dr Eelco Doornbos (Delft University of Technology)

Slides PlatformMGM_eelco_doornbos_finalpresentationdays.pdf

10:40 → 13:00 Environments effects studies

10:40 Electron induced SEE

Speaker: Mrs Maris Tali (CERN-ESA)

Slides FPD_Tali_Electrons.pdf

11:45 SATRAM results and data evaluation

Speaker: Stefan Gohl (Institut of Experimental and Applied Physics)

Slides StGohl.pdf

12:15 Micrometeoroid focussing in X-ray optics (Status report)

Speaker: Dr Anna Mocker (Universität Stuttgart)

Slides 2018-05-16_Micrometeoroid_focussing_in_X-ray_optics_Status_report_final_version.pdf

12:45 BAS CASE study

Speaker: Hugh Evans (ESA/TEC-EPS)

Slides 2018-05-16-BAS-CASE-study-FPD.pdf

11:15 → 11:45 Coffee break

13:00 → 14:30 Lunch

14:30 → 15:20 Models developments

14:30 Improved Modelling of Electrical Thruster Induced Plasma plume Interaction (SPIS-EP)

Speakers: Dr Pierre Sarrailh (ONERA - The French Aerospace Lab), Dr Sébastien Hess (ONERA)

Transparents SPIS-EP_FPDays_v1.pptx

15:20 → 15:50 Coffee break

15:50 → 17:05 Tools developments

15:50 ExtendeD Gdml Editor (EDGE) developments

Speaker: Mr Arnaud Trouche (Artenum)

Slides EDGE-FPDays-2018-05_final.pdf

16:10 ODI: Open Data Interface (Status report)

Speaker: Dr Daniel Heynderickx (DH Consultancy BVBA)

Slides ODI presentation