Early Results From the Engineering Radiation Monitor (ERM) and Solar Cell Monitor on the Van Allen Probes Mission

Author

Maurer, R.H. ; Goldsten, J.O. ; Peplowski, P.N. ; Holmes-Siedle, A.G. ; Butler, Michael H. ; Herrmann, Carl C. ; Mauk, Barry H.

Author_Institution

Space Dept., Johns Hopkins Univ. Appl. Phys. Lab., Laurel, MD, USA

Volume

60

Issue

6

fYear

2013

fDate

Dec. 2013

Firstpage

4053

Lastpage

4058

Abstract

The Engineering Radiation Monitor (ERM) measures dose, dose rate and charging currents on the Van Allen Probes mission to study the dynamics of earth´s Van Allen radiation belts. Early results from this monitor show a variation in dose rates with time, a correlation between the dosimeter and charging current data, a map of charging current versus orbit altitude and a comparison of cumulative dose to pre-launch modeling after 260 days. Solar cell degradation monitor patches track the decrease in solar array output as displacement damage accumulates.

Keywords

dosimeters; field effect transistors; radiation belts; radiation hardening (electronics); solar cells; solar powered vehicles; space vehicle electronics; ERM; charging current data; displacement damage; dose measurement; dose rate; dosimeter; earth van Allen radiation belts; engineering radiation monitor; orbit altitude; radFET detectors; solar array output; solar cell degradation monitor; van Allen probe mission; Degradation; Dosimetry; Photovoltaic cells; Probes; Radiation monitoring; Space missions; Temperature sensors; Dosimeters; radFET detectors; radiation environment; solar cell degradation; spacecraft charging currents;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Nuclear Science, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9499

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/TNS.2013.2281937

Filename

6651707