Development and testing of detectors for single event effects
Development and testing of detectors for single event effects
The CubeSat mission CLIMB is the second CubeSat mission of the University of Applied Sciences Wiener Neustadt. Starting from a low Earth orbit, CLIMB will slowly increase its orbit up to 1000 km. The main goal of CLIMB is to reach the inner layer of the Van Allen belt, which starts roughly at an altitude of 1000 km. Measurements of the accumulated radiation dose and the magnetic field will be conducted.
“Flight heritage” of electronic components is often very unspecific information. Therefore, we propose the exploration of a particle spectrometer for the assessment of the space mission radiation environment with respect to single event effects. We will design a concept for the particle spectrometer and compare it with existing approaches. We will test the spectrometer concept in a proton radiation environment (MedAustron). This particle dosimeter will enable both traditional and new space to improve and enhance information on “flight heritage”, especially during solar storms, and will contribute to the entire space weather community.
A Hold Down and Release Actuator will be developed within an ESA funded project, which is suitable for CubeSats. Those devices are e.g. applied to deploy solar panals and are a crucial component for improving the reliability of satellites.
Silicon detectors, which are able to detect single electrons are developed and tested together with the austrian acadamy of sciences and the Max-Planck-Institute in Munich. Beside the search for dark matter, they can be applied for the detection of single optical photons and their integration in a CubeSat will be studied
The objective of this project, funded by the FFG under the COIN program "Aufbau", is to build R&D competence to expand test and analysis capabilities specifically for small satellite systems (CubeSat).