Space Environment and Radiation Effects Lab: Capabilities and Roadmap
Topic:
Space Environment and Radiation Effects Lab: Capabilities and Roadmap
Presenter:
Brian Wood, EMA Senior Scientist
Abstract:
Testing for the harsh environment of space can be difficult, but at EMA, we’re making it a little easier.
EMA’s Space Environment and Radiation Effects (SERE) lab is a space environment simulation test facility that specializes in spacecraft charging and ESD issues that occur on an instrument and bulk material level. We’ve helped customers establish risk levels pre-flight to ensure full lifetime mission success through comprehensive testing and analysis. Our adaptability can allow for custom testing solutions to suit a large range of environments and scenarios.
By conducting ground testing during the design phase of the spacecraft or device, these results can help solidify or shape any construction or composition changes that may be necessary. This is done by utilizing the SERE lab’s array of radiation sources and measurement techniques to simulate the environment in question, characterizing the given charging behavior or sample degradation to provide insight towards mitigation techniques. Problem areas that the SERE lab can investigate include solar array testing per ISO-11221, optical degradation characterization of thin film coatings, plasma interactions of exposed dielectrics including high voltage or powered scenarios, material aging studies, along with material characterization crucial for understanding charging behavior.
This webinar will review the specific capabilities that the SERE lab can currently provide, along with the development roadmap for future prospects. Overview of some past work will be shared to give more detail into how we investigate risk scenarios, and how the experts at EMA can provide customers with the testing needs they require to fulfill necessary mission requirements.
