Initial radiation measurement results from Europe’s Galileo test-bed satellite, Giove-A
- Paper number
IAC-06-B3.6.06
- Author
Mr. Richard Blott, Qinetiq Ltd., United Kingdom
- Year
2006
- Abstract
Europe is planning the deployment of the Galileo navigation system in the near future and as part of these preparations has launched a test satellite, Giove-A. Whilst its primary purpose is to evaluate the critical navigation payload technologies needed for future operational Galileo satellites and to secure the use of the frequencies allocated by the ITU for the Galileo system, its secondary objective is to measure the radiation environment encountered in medium Earth orbit (MEO). It therefore includes radiation environment monitors supplied by QinetiQ (MERLIN) and the University of Surrey (CEDEX). MERLIN measures electrostatic charging and electron fluxes, total ionising dose, energetic proton fluxes and heavy ion linear energy transfer (LET) spectra. CEDEX monitors energetic proton fluxes, heavy ion linear energy transfer (LET) spectra and ionising dose rates. Giove-A (c. 600 kg), built by SSTL (UK) for ESA, was successfully launched on 28th December 2005 into a 24,000 km circular, 56 degree inclination orbit. Data has been received from the two monitoring payloads since the early days of the mission and demonstrates that the environment is highly dynamic due to the influence of space weather. In this paper the key results obtained up to the time of writing will be summarised together with an explanation of their relevance to system specification and design. The potential benefits of such on-board radiation monitoring over a longer period will also be detailed.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-06-B3.6.06.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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