MicroRAD100^TM, or Dosimetry Intercomparison and Miniaturization Experiment (DIME)

Space Micro Inc.

San Diego, CA

• Space Micro’s MicroRAD100™ is a low power, high performance space radiation dosimeter designed to meet the challenges of the harsh space and satellite environments. It measures the proton, electron, and cosmic ray flux for both total dose and spectrum classification. These measurements are essential for the understanding of space radiation and its effects on electronics. The MicroRAD100™ uses 3 UVEPROM radiation flux sensors along with 6 RADFET sensors, designed in such a way to be used inside a vacuum environment without overheating. The UVEPROMs do not require any power during operation, but only during readout, so that the measurements can occur while the unit is functionally idle. The dosimeter has a dynamic range up to 100 Mrad(Si), and sensitivity down to 1 rad(Si).

• MicroRAD100™ uses multiple radiation detector technologies to measure the radiation dose in space. It characterizes the total ionizing dose (TID), displacement damage, and single event effects (SEEs) due to radiation in space. This technology will provide important data that will help validate and select appropriate equipment in future Living with a Star (LWS) science missions, as well other NASA missions. This data will be used to resolve operational anomalies and to validate particle transport codes.
• The MicroRAD100™ was included in NASA’s LWS mission as part of the DIME experiment.
• The MicroRAD100™ has been included in Space Micro’s product lineup and can be incorporated into the ProtonX-Box™ as an optional slice.

• The MicroRAD100™ is the state-of-the-art solution for monitoring this radiation to assess TID and SEE in space electronics. The MicroRAD100™ has a broad range of applications in both military and commercial space programs. It is suitable for LEO, GEO, and even interplanetary missions.
• The MicroRAD100™ is currently available from Space Micro both as a standalone product and as an optional slice in Space Micro’s ProtonX-Box™ and is also available for commercial and science space missions.
• This technology provides business opportunities beyond that as a standalone product. It can also be integrated into other Space Micro space systems, such as the ProtonX-Box™, furthering the marketability and reach of the technology.

• Production quality versions of the MicroRAD100™ were delivered to NASA GSFC as the Dosimetry Intercomparison and Miniaturization Experiment (DIME) for the Space Environment Testbed (SET) as part of the Living With a Star (LWS) program. It enables the space weather community to learn a great deal about the space radiation environment and how it affects satellites, electronics, and our daily lives. Beyond LWS SET, it has applications in any NASA space weather-monitoring mission.
• Any space application that requires knowledge of the radiation environment could utilize the MicroRAD100™ space radiation dosimeter, this includes space weather monitoring as well as space science missions.

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Curator: SBIR Support                3-25-11