Modelling the interaction of the Astro Bio Cube Sat with the Van Allen’s Belt radiative field using Monte Carlo transport codes

Abstract

Purpose The AstroBio Cube Satellite (ABCS) will deploy within the inner Van Allen belt on the Vega C Maiden Flight launch opportunity of the European Space Agency. At this altitude, ABCS will experience radiation doses orders of magnitude greater than in low earth orbit, where CubeSats usually operate. The paper aims to estimate the irradiation effect on the ABCS payload in the orbital condition, their possible mitigation designing shielding solutions and performs a preliminary representativity simulation study on the ABCS irradiation with fission neutron at the TAPIRO (TAratura Pila Rapida Potenza 0) nuclear research reactor facility at ENEA. Methods We quantify the contributions of geomagnetically trapped particles (electron and proton), Galactic Cosmic Rays (GCR ions), Solar energetic particle within the ABCS orbit using the ESA’s SPace ENVironment information system. FLUKA (Fluktuierende Kaskade—Fluctuating Cascade) code models the ABCS interaction with the orbital source. Results We found a shielding solution of the weight of 300 g constituted by subsequent layers of tungsten, resins, and aluminium that decreases on average the 20% overall dose rate relative to the shielding offered by the only satellite’s structure. Finally, simulations of neutron irradiation of the whole ABCS structure within the TAPIRO’s thermal column cavity show that a relatively short irradiation time is requested to reach the same level of 1 MeV neutron Silicon equivalent damage of the orbital source. Conclusions The finding deserves the planning of a future experimental approach to confirm the TAPIRO’s performance and establish an irradiation protocol for testing aerospatial electronic components.

Exploring the ENEA Casaccia and ENEA Frascati irradiation capabilities: Status and perspectives

“…By comparing such simulation outcomes with the equivalent damage estimated for the orbital source, we can estimate the effectiveness of the neutrons as a source of damages. A similar estimation has been already carried out in [1] for the whole ABCS structure.…”

“…The Astro Bio CubeSat (ABCS) was launched in the Van Allen belt [1] in July 2022, in a period of Solar maximum activity that triggered a Coronal Mass Ejection, causing the arrival of high flux Solar Energetic Particles (SEP) in the proximity of the Earth. After seven days of the mission, the satellite data transmission to Earth suddenly ceased, and the causes are currently under investigation.…”

“…However, the need to design complex components and test them against a complex mixed radiation field, such as aerospace systems, poses the question of ascertaining the representativeness limits of the ENEA facilities of the radiative spatial condition. An example of the practical representation of the Van Allen Belt complex orbital radiation field at 5830 km to be used in design activities is given in [1]. All experiments or tests that must be conducted in these environments require as much as possible the creation of the same multi-particle radioactive environment, covering as many energy spectra as possible.…”

“…The simulation tuning, based on the MCNP and FLUKA codes, has been performed using as input the outcomes from beam dynamics codes for the particle accelerators and nuclear properties of the research nuclear reactor. As a reference, we used the experimental data obtained from the ABCS satellite that was launched into orbit in the Van Allen belt (5860 km of altitude) in 2022 [1].…”