cosine develops new electron model for spacecraft
Published: 12 Feb 2010
cosine has been awarded a contract by the European Space Agency to develop a new up-to-date model of the electron spectrum that spacecraft encounter.
Space is a hostile environment not only for man, but also for the instruments aboard satellites. In particular, space instrumentation must be protected against the adverse effects of cosmic rays, that can damage the sophisticated optical and electronic components instruments are made of. In order to take adequate countermeasures it is important to know the intensity and energy distributions of the particles along the path followed by the satellite. To this end models have been developed, and are routinely used as input into the design of spacecraft shields.cosine has just been awarded a contract by the European Space Agency to develop a new up-to-date model of the electron spectrum spacecraft encounter in interplanetary space. Emphasis will be on the near-Earth to L2 region, where many future scientific missions will operate. The work, carried out in cooperation with the Surrey Space Centre (UK), requires a very good understanding of the physics involved, together with data analysis and software development skills. The results will become available by the end of 2010.