Strategy for New Technologies and Nowadays Spacecraft Needs

Single Event Effects. A Test strategy for New Technologies and Nowadays Spacecraft Needs

Abstract: The Single event effects is becoming more and more important due to the devices technology evolution, the increase demand of COTS use (and other non characterized devices against radiation), and the radiation requirements request by new missions and applications. In this paper we present an overview of the situation and we propose a test strategy to obtain the needed information about SEE behavior to determine to use a device in a certain application. It includes the assessment of devices that are in the development phase, those in which their technologies and design information are available, and components for which the only available information is the limited one offered by the component manufactre to users. In all cases, we propose a flow of operations and tasks to gather SEE information to decide on its use.

Conclusion

In summary, the SEE phenomenom is a growing problem with a complex assessment, which requires a high degree of expertise and involves several knowlodge areas: from basic physics to radiation environment.

The SEE assessment at component level depends on several factors and there is not a unique approach to gather the information. The availability of the device technology information is a strong constrain, that reduces the possobility to perform several activities.

When the use os a certain device is determinative for a certain application, the best solution is to design a test to gather the needed information for this specific activity. If the aim is wider, and the device technology is available, we can take the benefit of the current availabel tools to gain more information about the device SEE behavior and update the technology / design to build a hardened device to SEE phenomena.