Ben Taylor

Observations of Internal Charging Currents in Medium Earth Orbit

The Galileo global navigation system will employ an array of satellites in medium Earth orbit (MEO). Internal charging is one of the primary hazards for any spacecraft in MEO, and accordingly, the Galileo test satellite, Giove-A, carries a detector, SURF, to undertake the measurement of internal charging currents at three different shielding depths. The currents are due to electrons stopped in three aluminum plates: the first plate is 0.5 mm thick and located under 0.5-mm Al-equivalent shielding, the second is 0.5 mm thick and located underneath the first plate, and the third is 1.0 mm thick and located underneath the second plate. Giove-A was successfully launched on December 28, 2005 into a 23 300-km circular 56deg inclination orbit. In this paper, we provide data on the internal charging currents observed in 2006, with particular emphasis on two large charging events, one in mid-April and one in mid-December. Comparisons are made to predictions using the DICTAT internal charging tool and the FLUMIC ldquoworst caserdquo trapped electron belt model. In general, the charging currents observed are safely within the standard DICTAT 3.5/FLUMIC 3.0 predictions but are exceeded in the most shielded plate on five calendar days during December 2006. The December event was unique in 2006 in that it was triggered by the arrival of a coronal mass ejection (CME) rather than being due to the effects of a fast solar wind stream flowing from a coronal hole. The currents measured in the December event were, however, an order of magnitude lower than those predicted using the ldquoanomalously large eventrdquo supplement to FLUMIC which models the most extreme electron enhancements associated with CMEs.

STRaND-2: Visual inspection, proximity operations & nanosatellite docking

The Surrey Training Research and Nanosatellite Demonstrator (STRaND) programme has been success in identifying and creating a leading low-cost nanosatellite programme with advanced attitude and orbit control system (AOCS) and experimental computing platforms based on smart-phone technologies. The next demonstration capabilities, that provide a challenging mission to the existing STRaND platform, is to perform visual inspection, proximity operations and nanosatellite docking. Visual inspection is to be performed using a COTS LIDAR system to estimate range and pose under 100 m. Proximity operations are controlled using a comprehensive guidance, navigation and control (GNC) loop in a polar form of the Hills Clohessy Wiltshire (HCW) frame including J2 perturbations. And finally, nanosatellite docking is performed at under 30 cm using a series of tuned magnetic coils. This paper will document the initial experiments and calculations used to qualify LIDAR components, size the mission thrust and tank requirements, and air cushion table demonstrations of the docking mechanism.

Results From the Galileo Giove—A Radiation Monitors and Comparison With Existing Radiation Belt Models

The radiation monitors on board the Galileo Giove-A satellite, CEDEX and Merlin, and their data are presented. The instruments include energetic proton and ion detectors, an internal charging monitor, RADFETs and experimental dose-rate photodiodes. A comparison of the data with existing monitors and models is presented.

A GIOVE Derived Galileo Electron Spectrum and Comparison to Models

Two precursor satellites for the European satellite navigation system, Galileo have been launched, GIOVE-A and -B. Both spacecraft carry monitors to characterise the radiation environment in the MEO environment. CEDEX, built by the University of Surrey and Merlin, built by QinetiQ, are carried on GIOVE-A and SREM built by Oerlikon Space is on board GIOVE-B. All three monitors have been operating since their respective launches and have measured the trapped electron population as well as solar protons and GCRs. An electron energy spectrum has been derived from Merlin measurements and validated with data from GIOVE-B/SREM and the IREM instrument on the INTEGRAL observatory. The derived energy spectra are compared to environment models, suggesting a harder energy spectrum than expected, but not exceeding worst-case FLUMIC predictions.

The micro radiation environment monitor (MuREM) and SSTL radiation monitor (SSTL RM) on TechDemoSat-1

Two new miniaturized scientific radiation monitoring payloads are presented prior to their first flight on the TechDemoSat-1 Spacecraft. They are capable of monitoring the space radiation environment and its effects on radiation-sensitive devices. Micro radaion environment monitor (MuREM) and Surrey Satellite Technology radiation monitor (SSTL RM) carry RADFET dosimeters, dose-rate-sensitive photodiodes, and p-i-n diode particle detectors. SSTL RM is also connected to external RADFET sensors placed around the spacecraft, while MuREM carries a radiation effects payload consisting of COTS devices that will be monitored while exposed to the space radiation environment.

The Interplanetary Electron Model (IEM)

A new Interplanetary electron environment model based on statistical analyses of historical datasets is presented. The model reports generates confidence limits for solar electron fluences in a similar fashion to existing Solar proton models, as well as peak event fluxes and fluences. Electrons of Jovian origin are also modeled based on simplified diffusive transport equations to provide predicted fluxes for locations within the ecliptic plane.

Galileo GIOVE-A MEORAD Results and Analysis

The Giove-A spacecraft carries two radiation monitors, CEDEX, built by the University of Surrey and Merlin, built by QinetiQ, to study the radiation environment encountered in the Galileo orbit. The two monitors have been functioning since the beginning of the mission and have measured protons, heavy ions and electrons. The electron environment has been found to be highly variable and driven by solar interactions. Comparisons with AE-8 indicate that the electron energy spectrum for the period measured was somewhat harder than that expected from the model. A series of large solar proton events were detected in December 2006, registering as enhanced fluxes of protons, heavy ions and also triggering a large enhancement in the outer electron belt. Comparisons with POLE and INTEGRAL/IREM show an improved spectral match over AE-8.

Observations of internal charging and outer-belt electron enhancements from Giove-A

The planned Galileo global navigation system will employ an array of satellites in medium Earth orbit. Internal charging is one of the primary hazards for any spacecraft in MEO and accordingly the Galileo test spacecraft, Giove-A, carries the dasiaSURFpsila detector to undertake measurements of internal charging currents deposited at three different shielding depths (0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 mm Al). Giove-A was successfully launched on 28th December 2005 into a 23,300 km circular, 56 degree inclination orbit. In this paper we provide data on the charging currents observed in 2006, with particular emphasis on two large charging events, one in April and one in December. Comparisons are made between the flight data and predictions made using ESAs internal charging tool, DICTAT, which employs the FLUMIC dasiaworst casepsila electron belt model. The DICTAT predictions of charging current are exceeded for a few days in the 1.5 mm Al shielded plate in the course of the December event.