Bibliography

Radiation-Induced Single-Event Effects on the Van Allen Probes Spacecraft

Electronic devices on the Van Allen Probes mission have experienced more than a thousand single-event effects (SEE) during the 4.5 years of transit through the inner and outer earth trapped radiation belts. The majority of these SEE have been due to trapped protons determined by the orbit timing and the dose rate response of the engineering radiation monitor. Fault tolerant systems engineering and spacecraft operation have enabled a successful mission to date without a safe mode or spacecraft emergency.

Maurer, Richard; Fretz, Kristin; Angert, Matthew; Bort, David; Goldsten, John; Ottman, Geffrey; Dolan, Jeff; Needell, Gerald; Bodet, David;

Published by: IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science      Published on: 09/2017

YEAR: 2017     DOI: 10.1109/TNS.2017.2754878

Space vehicles; Probes; Belts; Orbits; Monitoring; protons; Observatories; Van Allen Probes

Software controlled memory scrubbing for the Van Allen Probes Solid State Recorder (SSR) memory

The Van Allen Probes mission which was designed and built by the Johns Hopkins University, Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) is also being operated by the APL mission operations team in Laurel, Maryland. The two Van Allen Probes spacecraft have been successfully collecting data on orbit since they were launched on August 30, 2012. These twin probes are providing unprecedented insight into the physical dynamics of the Earth\textquoterights radiation belts and are giving scientists the data they need to make predictions of changes in this critical region of space, by sampling the harsh radiation belt environment where major space weather activity occurs and many spacecraft operate.[1] Shortly after launch, radiation induced anomalies were reported on both spacecraft and investigated by the hardware and software engineering teams. The most significant of these anomalies was associated with single-event effects experienced by the spacecraft Solid State Recorder (SSR) memory. The radiation effects resulted in correctable memory errors but with a secondary effect of data corruption within the SSR. The investigation into these anomalies ultimately identified a subtle hardware design defect, which was reproducible in a controlled ground test environment. This paper details the nature of the memory upsets and hardware mitigation interactions, and the effect these had on the spacecraft science and housekeeping data. It also describes the subsequent investigation and testing to uncover the hardware shortcomings and the implementation and upload of modified flight software to the operational spacecraft. Lastly this paper will provide on-orbit performance data for the SSR since the modified software was made active. Altogether, this will provide insight into not only the challenges of designing for the harsh radiation environment, but also into the need for flexibility when designing systems.

Reid, Mark; Ottman, Geffrey;

Published by:       Published on: 03/2014

YEAR: 2014     DOI: 10.1109/AERO.2014.6836406

Van Allen Probes

Radiation Belt Storm Probes\textemdashObservatory and Environments

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration\textquoterights (NASA\textquoterights) Radiation Belt Storm Probe (RBSP) is an Earth-orbiting mission that launched August 30, 2012, and is the latest science mission in NASA\textquoterights Living with a Star Program. The RBSP mission will investigate, characterize and understand the physical dynamics of the radiation belts, as well as the influence of the Sun on the Earth\textquoterights environment, by measuring particles, electric and magnetic fields and waves that comprise geospace. The mission is composed of two identically instrumented spinning observatories in an elliptical orbit around earth with 600 km perigee, 30,000 km apogee and 10o inclination to provide full sampling of the Van Allen radiation belts. The twin RBSP observatories (recently renamed the Van Allen Probes) will follow slightly different orbits and will lap each other four times per year, offering simultaneous measurements over a range of observatory separation distances. A description of the observatory environment is provided along with protection for sensitive electronics to support operations in the harsh radiation belt environment. Spacecraft and subsystem key characteristics and instrument accommodations are included that allow the RBSP science objectives to be met.

Kirby, Karen; Artis, David; Bushman, Stewart; Butler, Michael; Conde, Rich; Cooper, Stan; Fretz, Kristen; Herrmann, Carl; Hill, Adrian; Kelley, Jeff; Maurer, Richard; Nichols, Richard; Ottman, Geffrey; Reid, Mark; Rogers, Gabe; Srinivasan, Dipak; Troll, John; Williams, Bruce;

Published by: Space Science Reviews      Published on: 11/2013

YEAR: 2013     DOI: 10.1007/s11214-012-9949-2

RBSP; Van Allen Probes

Radiation Belt Storm Probe Spacecraft and Impact of Environment on Spacecraft Design

NASA\textquoterights Radiation Belt Storm Probe (RBSP) is an Earth-orbiting mission scheduled to launch in September 2012 and is the next science mission in NASA\textquoterights Living with a Star Program. The RBSP mission will investigate, characterize and understand the physical dynamics of the radiation belts, and the influence of the sun on the earth\textquoterights environment, by measuring particles, electric and magnetic fields and waves that comprise the geospace. The mission is composed of two identically instrumented spinning spacecraft in an elliptical orbit around earth from 600 km perigee to 30,000 km apogee at 10 degree inclination to provide full sampling of the Van Allen radiation belts. The twin spacecraft will follow slightly different orbits and will lap each other 4 times per year; this offers simultaneous measurements over a range of spacecraft separation distances. A description of the spacecraft environment is provided along with spacecraft and subsystem key characteristics and accommodations that protect sensitive spacecraft electronics and support operations in the harsh radiation belt environment.

Kirby, Karen; Bushman, Stewart; Butler, Michael; Conde, Rich; Fretz, Kristen; Herrmann, Carl; Hill, Adrian; Maurer, Richard; Nichols, Richard; Ottman, Geffrey; Reid, Mark; Rogers, Gabe; Srinivasan, Dipak; Troll, John; Williams, Bruce;

Published by:       Published on: 03/2012

YEAR: 2012     DOI: 10.1109/AERO.2012.6187020

RBSP; Van Allen Probes