Radiation Hard Electronic Design for LVO Long Mission

  • Thread starter Thread starter Arend
  • Start date Start date
Click For Summary
Venus lacks a magnetosphere, exposing missions to higher levels of Galactic Cosmic Rays (GCRs) compared to Low Earth Orbit (LEO). Standard radiation-hardened electronic components, typically rated for a Linear Energy Transfer (LET) of 85 MeV-cm²/mg, may not provide sufficient protection for long-duration missions to Venus. Concerns are raised about the need for additional safeguards against Single Event Latchup (SEL) due to the increased radiation environment. The discussion highlights the importance of adapting electronic designs specifically for Venus missions to mitigate radiation effects. Overall, careful planning and enhanced protection strategies are essential for successful long-term operations in Venus's harsh radiation conditions.
Arend
Messages
21
Reaction score
2
TL;DR
For std LEO electronic design, the modern radiation-hard components with a Single Event Latchup (SEL) Immune to LET = 85 MeV-cm2/mg are in a safe condition. What about for a Venus mission?
Venus does not have a magnetosphere, so the Galactic Cosmic Rays (GCRs) environment shall be much worse than in a LEO environment. Looking to the std radiation models for Venus, the standard radiation-hard space level electronic component with tested immunity LET = 85 MeV-cm2/mg seems not enough, so, for example, a 1cm2 Si die will suffer considerable flux above this level during a long mission (10 years for example). So, the question is, usually we are not paying attention to latch-up condition for LEO designs, as using tested immunity LET = 85 MeV-cm2/mg, but for a venus mission (LVO), shall be design be different, including additional protection against Latchup? Thank you!!!
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Is this question for schoolwork?
 
Arend said:
TL;DR Summary: For std LEO electronic design, the modern radiation-hard components with a Single Event Latchup (SEL) Immune to LET = 85 MeV-cm2/mg are in a safe condition. What about for a Venus mission?

venus mission (LVO),
LVO = Low Venus Orbit?

What references has one found regarding the radiation environment around Venus, or at

For example:

Venus Radiation environment monitor (VeRad) for the Venus Orbiter Mission
https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2022cosp...44..331S/abstract

Revisiting the cosmic-ray induced Venusian radiation dose in the context of habitability
https://www.aanda.org/articles/aa/full_html/2020/01/aa36968-19/aa36968-19.html

Ionization of the venusian atmosphere from solar and galactic cosmic rays
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0019103514004941

Venus has an orbit with a semi-major axis of 0.723 au (108,200,000 km; 67,200,000 mi), and an eccentricity of 0.007. Ref: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orbit_of_Venus

https://angeo.copernicus.org/articles/34/595/2016/angeo-34-595-2016.pdf

Galactic Cosmic Rays at Mars and Venus: Temporal Variations from Hours to Decades
Measured as the Background Signal of Onboard Microchannel Plates
https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-4357/ac9a49/pdf

For those not familiar with SEU or SEL. (single event upset or latchup)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latch-up

https://www.ti.com/lit/rr/slvk043a/slvk043a.pdf?ts=1760173958547

https://www.doeeet.com/content/eee-...ion/single-event-latchup-protection-circuits/
 
  • Like
Likes FactChecker and berkeman
A Venus mission doesn't have anything you don't see in LEO. The radiation is just more intense:
* You accumulate an integrated dose quicker - but longer missions in Earth orbit can end up with the same.
* You get a higher rate of single event upsets. Plan the electronics accordingly.
 

Similar threads