The UCISAT program has been as UC Irvine for more than five years now and is

in the final stages of completing its first CubeSat. The project is broken into 7 different
subsystems, teams that work on specific parts for the satellite. These seven groups are
C&DH (Command and Data Handling), ADCS (Attitude Determination and Control),
Structures, Communications, Payload, Thermal, Systems and Power. All subsystems are
at least finalizing implementation and integration for their designs and will undergo
testing. The research proposed here will benefit future missions of UCISAT more than
the current UCISAT-1 project.

Purpose

A serious risk to the satellite once it’s up in orbit the certain exposure to radiation
in low earth orbit (LEO). This radiation from electrons, protons, cosmic rays or solar
activity could deteriorate the hardware, namely the electronic components of the satellite
until its eventual failure. In the short term though, the radiation would also alter the
precision of the satellite’s computer system in what are known as single event upsets
(SEUs). Though only a single event of colliding with a radioactive particle, this SEU
could change measurements or commands stored in the computer, resulting in a hiccup or
possibly catastrophe for the satellite or mission.

Studying both the space environment as a function of radioactivity and the effect
of such radiation on electrical components could provide us with valuable defensive
measures taken to protect the life of the satellite, accuracy of measurements and data and
overall mission.

Background

Radiation exists in high energy subatomic particles that are energetic enough to
detach electrons from atoms or molecules. This term is called ionizing and is the type of
radiation that concerns objects in LEO. There exist non-ionizing radiation but these are
lower energy particles that cannot convert atoms or molecules into ions. Ionizing
particles include α particles, β particles and neutrons. Different regions of space have
different densities of radiation. When these different particles interact with matter, they
change the properties of the local materials a small amount, but overtime these collisions
build up and pose a serious threat to the health of the satellite and the ultimate goal of the
project.

Understanding the effect of radiation on electronics within the satellite starts with
understanding the type of radiation that exists in LEO, the space that occupies the
satellite’s trajectory, and the extent to which the satellite will be exposed to said radiation.
There are four types of radiation that exist in LEO, the main two are from electrons and
protons that get trapped within the Earth’s magnetic field known as the Van Allen belt.
These are large clouds of high density high energy particles that are dictated by the
magnetic fields of the earth. A large density of electrons extends to about 9 Earth radii
and have energies up to 7MeV; they are called β-radiation or β-rays. The proton belt
extends to 4 Earth radii and has energies up to hundreds of MeV. These clouds of
energized protons and electrons fill the volume of the LEO, so both forms of radiation
could potentially pose threats to the satellite. The significance of these energy levels will
be researched.

Two other forms of radiation exists but in lesser quantities. These are cosmic rays
(high energy ions that originate from outside of the solar system) and radiation from solar
activity (mostly electrons and protons). Compared to α or β particles, the cosmic
particles have energies up to GeVs, these ions are 85% protons, 14% α particles and 1%
heavy nuclei. Of course, these ions have different properties than the protons or electrons
due to their higher energy. Solar event radiation follows the temporal climate of the sun
and have an 11 year periodicity and come in the form of x-rays, protons or heavy ions.
Various NASA satellites collected years of data to provide precise measurements of
proton and electric densities (AP-8 and AE-8, respectively) based on a variety of
parameters including the strength of the earth’s magnetic field, the position and altitude.
AP-8 and AE-8 are software models that determine omnidirectional proton or electron
fluxes given some initial arguments. AP-8 and AE-8 provide space-environment data to
the project otherwise not available, and using AP-8 and AE-8 to collect spreadsheets of
this data will ease the determination of the intensity to which the CubeSat will be
exposed to electron/proton radiation. Using this data, coupled with further research on
the effect of space radiation on microelectronics, will give a more accurate picture of the
best solution to this problem. 1

Radiation in Components

After preliminary research into the types of radiation exposed to the satellite,
research into how outer materials are affected by such particles could be conducted. The
most basic alteration that occurs from collision of the satellite components with radiation
particles is ionization. When a proton or electron comes into close contact with neutral or
charged components of the satellite, it may modify the equilibrium charge of that particle.
Once enough of these particles “pile up” on the satellite, it would make enough small
alterations to trigger a larger issue such as parameter drift, increased current leakage, loss
of noise immunity and an altogether functional failure in the long run. Only ionizing
particles with enough initial energy are able to charge these microscopic components of
the satellite.

Another potential dysfunctionality radiation would have on electronic components

would be the sheer structural damage that heavier protons inflict on microscopic lattice
structures of the outer layers of the satellite. The more defects a lattice structure, say
Silicon, possesses the less conductive it can be and more resistance is induced. This
affects current running through the semiconductor, which leads to reduced LED output,
gain on relevant circuit components and charge transfer efficiency. A less efficient charge
transfer means a less efficient overall electrical power circuit and consequently
sufficiently lessened solar energy to electrical energy ratio and a shorter overall CubeSat
life, in terms of functionality at least. Nonetheless, without an efficient power system,
the satellite will be degraded to space junk sooner than necessary.
 The cosmic rays described above are the main culprit for transient current pulses,
computing delays and single event effects. When a single radioactive particle collides
with the satellite, it may ionize a relatively small, local region of the CubeSat. When this
particle hits a particular spot, whether I be a bolt or a p-n junction, charges within the
satellite rearrange either momentarily to disrupt computing or delay the hardware, or it
may even permanently reverse the pole of a certain localized atom. The degree to which
each “hit” alters the functionality and livelihood of the spacecraft is to be researched, as
well as methods to dampen effects of such single event collisions. Other single event
disruptions include: latch-up, an inadvertent creation of permanent low-impedance routes
between a source and various circuit elements such as a MOSFET that often leads to
overcurrent and quicker draining of the circuit( basically a near-short-circuit); SEUs, the
bit flips that change an output from a zero to a one and vice versa, a nightmare for
accuracy in data collection and efficiency, also reduces a system’s resistance to noise
handling; snap-back high anomalous current (HAC); burnout in a power MOS due to
radiation from heavy ions; single event gate rupture (SEGR) that, similar to bit flips,
momentarily and singularly changes the functionality of a certain circuit element; “soft
latch”, a device or system lock up, the opposite of latch up, basically an near-open-
circuit. 2

A look at current delays due to radiation hits can put these momentary failures
into perspective. As stated before, these SEU collisions swing the output voltage from
rail to ground or vice versa. These short discrepancies have different effects in various
elements, and each element is affected for a different period. For example, these effects
have a duration of 15 μs in Op-Amps, 10 μs in comparators, voltage regulators and
voltage references and roughly 100 ns in opto-couplers. In electronic circuits, these
events are long enough to disrupt functionality and even output.

Keeping track of materials and technologies that have historically been more
radiation tolerant should also help in understanding the effects of radiation in
microelectronics. Such devices include diodes (other than zener), TTL logic, ECL
(Emitter coupled logic), technologies containing GaAs (Gallium Arsenide), microwave
devices, crystals and most passive devices. 3

Implementation

The research will consist largely of reading articles on space radiation for other
applications and applying relevant information to UCI Satellite. The first step in
understanding solutions to induced defections on electronic components due to radiation
is to understand the physics of radiation in the particular field. Once such research is
conducted, conclusions about the more critical types of radiation that will be affected the
CubeSat can be made. This first step includes Understanding the exposure in sheer
numbers of data will lead to the meat of the research: researching, designing and
implementing solutions to the radiation problem.
 Timeline of Research: Implementation
I. Model the space environment based on
planned trajectory
• determine proton, electron, cosmic ray fluxes as a
function of time, positions (altitude and latitude)
and other factors that influence radiation.
• based on data, determine which types of particles
will most influence the satellite. Document data.
II. Research effects of particles on components
• research effects on electronic structural
components of satellite, from shielding plates to
the payload camera to the electronic PCBs.
Document data.
• research disruptions in computing on hardware
level.
• plot decay of structures as a time dependent
function.
III. Research methods to combat defects
• find solutions for problems posed from radiation
effects.
• determine the best types of materials that should
be used in each of their applications.
• research the effect of circuit design in shielding
or checking for radiation effects. Document data.
• research the feasability of being able to test
radiation in UC Irvine laboraties
• based on these findings, possibly design a
method of experimentation that gives reliable
space radiation data
The next step involves
research that can be localized to
the project at hand. Since most
components to UCISAT-1 are
complete and ready for
manufacture/testing, the materials
that will be used and employed
into space are already known.
After modeling the space
environment, applying this data to
materials and structures of the
current UCISAT-1 will allow the
team to build upon their own work.
The probability of success of
UCISAT missions will increase
due to an increased understanding
of the radiation effects.
Researching specific materials and
structural geometries will be done
to ensure these benefits are
extracted to their full potential.
An important subgroup in
the second step is to research
specifically how collisions with
high energy ions affect a circuit:
how radiation from a proton could
cause an electron to bit flip from a
0 to a 1. Once understanding this
procedure, research into designing
correctional circuits and even SEU
immune circuits could be done.

IV. Analysis of Data, Implementing Designs The third step includes

• Organize data such that it can be used in future determining solutions for the
UCI SAT missions. Document findings. problems defined earlier in the
• Keep track of all sources used and cost of research process. By this point, the
materials if testing is conducted. question of whether testing for
• Come to conclusions about cost-effectiveness of space radiation in a UC Irvine
materials, possible design methods. laboratory can be done and if so,
what range accuracy can the results
be expected to lie in. The goal of this research is 1) to collect data and 2) (more
importantly) being able to apply all the data to a real life experiment or application. This
third step is most important in the implementation process because it determines whether
this research can be used for data measurement and gain of knowledge or whether
concrete conclusions can be made of data through intense analysis and further research.
Unfortunately, this third step is also the most vague due to the nature of this paper. No
conclusions can be drawn about electronic defects from space radiation at this point
because no research has been conducted yet, and it is the purpose of this proposal to bring
to initiative the potential of the topic.

Nonetheless, extensive data-collection will not have gone to waste even if, in
researching, we determine that experimenting with space radiation locally and
economically are not feasible. The data collected will be more than instrumental in
helping the next generation of UCI-SAT design and manufacture their parts. Extensive
documentation of total cost, and conclusions will be done to ensure the research will not
go to waste.

Concluding Remarks

Though the ultimate direction of this research is still unknown, it shows promise,
especially in the potential it has to improve the success of future UCISAT missions.
Regardless of a lack of a big picture for this research, a concrete plan of attack exists for
at least the first half of the duration of the research. I can confidently claim that after said
research is conducted, we can paint a clearer picture of what to expect in radiation
research. If we are successful in devising a surefire method of designing circuits or other
components to combat the effects of space radiation decay, the research will not only help
UCISAT in its success, but it may also lay the ground works to help other UC Irvine
space projects.
 Works Cited

1. “AE/AP Trapped Particle Flux Maps 1966-1980”. J.I. Vette. NASA

2. “Space Radiation Effects in Microelectronics”. Sammy Kayali. PwrPt.
3. “Space Radiation Effects in Electronic Components”. Lens Adams. PwrPt. May
2003.