Global Ionizing Radiation Environment Mapping Using Starlink Satellite Data

• doi: 10.1109/TNS.2023.3339132
• title: Global Ionizing Radiation Environment Mapping Using Starlink Satellite Data
• publisher: IEEE
• isbn:
• issn: 1558-1578
• rank: 2546
• access_type: OPEN_ACCESS
• content_type: Journals
• abstract: We demonstrate the use of over 5000 commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor (CMOS) image sensors and simple total ionizing dose (TID) circuits from the Starlink satellite constellation to measure ionizing radiation effects in a low Earth orbit (LEO) environment with high spatial and temporal resolution. The constellation’s main operating environment was modeled, ground tests were performed on the CMOS image sensor (CIS) and TID circuit, and on-orbit data were collected and analyzed from nearly 3000 satellites in the primary 53° inclination shell. The estimated TID and bright spot counts are compared to model predictions and known LEO phenomena, respectively. The constellation of TID circuits provides high confidence in design margin against cumulative dose risk. Data on single-event effects (SEEs) in CIS are collected and shown to be capable of mapping high radiation regions of the orbit, such as the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA). In total, this study demonstrates that thousands of low cost and readily available sensors hosted on mega-constellations can potentially inform future models by supplementing external data as a source of near real-time measurements of the radiation environment in LEO.
• article_number: 10354004
• pdf_url: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?tp=&arnumber=10354004
• html_url: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10354004/
• abstract_url: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10354004/
• publication_title: IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science
• conference_location:
• conference_dates:
• publication_number: 23
• is_number: 10504930
• publication_year: 2024
• publication_date: April 2024
• start_page: 599
• end_page: 606
• citing_paper_count: 1
• citing_patent_count: 0
• download_count: 1694
• insert_date: 20231212
• index_terms:
  • ieee_terms:
    • Sensors
    • Protons
    • CMOS image sensors
    • Satellites
    • Analytical models
    • Space vehicles
    • Semiconductor device modeling
  • author_terms:
    • Commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS)
    • complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor (CMOS)
    • CMOS image sensor (CIS)
    • device under test (DUT)
    • low Earth orbit (LEO)
    • single-event effects (SEEs)
    • solar particle event (SPE)
    • South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA)
    • total ionizing dose (TID)
  • dynamic_index_terms:
    • Ionizing Radiation
    • Ion Irradiation
    • Ion Implantation
    • Background Radiation
    • Ambient Radiation
    • Radiation Environment
    • Starlink Satellites
    • High-resolution
    • Spatial Resolution
    • High Spatial Resolution
    • Effects Of Radiation
    • Effects Of Radiotherapy
    • Effect Of Irradiation
    • Outdoor Environments
    • Open Environment
    • Cumulative Dose
    • Image Sensor
    • Camera Sensor
    • External Data
    • Safety Factor
    • Dose Concentration
    • Absorbed Dose
    • Total Ionizing Dose
    • Testing Ground
    • Low Earth Orbit
    • Low Earth Orbit Satellite
    • Irradiation
    • Latitude
    • Latitudinal
    • Least-squares Fitting
    • Dose Rate
    • Galactic Cosmic Rays
    • Galactic Cosmic Radiation
    • Proton Energy
    • Near Real-time Data
    • Data In Near Real Time
    • Bright Pixels
    • Linear Energy Transfer
    • Proton Flux
    • Space Environment
    • Function Of Dose
    • Dose Maps
    • Single Satellite
    • Cosmic Rays
    • Cosmic Radiation
• authors:
  • Author Name: Hamil Shah
    Affiliation: Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, Hawthorne, CA, USA
    Author URL: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/author/37086534360
    ID: 37086534360
    Order: 1
    Author Affiliations:
    • Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, Hawthorne, CA, USA
  • Author Name: Russell Van Cleave
    Affiliation: Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, Hawthorne, CA, USA
    Author URL: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/author/521648276510234
    ID: 521648276510234
    Order: 2
    Author Affiliations:
    • Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, Hawthorne, CA, USA
  • Author Name: William McAlpine
    Affiliation: Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, Hawthorne, CA, USA
    Author URL: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/author/774534186039961
    ID: 774534186039961
    Order: 3
    Author Affiliations:
    • Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, Hawthorne, CA, USA
  • Author Name: Zachary E. Fleetwood
    Affiliation: Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, Hawthorne, CA, USA
    Author URL: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/author/37085385476
    ID: 37085385476
    Order: 4
    Author Affiliations:
    • Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, Hawthorne, CA, USA
  • Author Name: Kim-Thu Pham
    Affiliation: Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, Hawthorne, CA, USA
    Author URL: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/author/856951048981424
    ID: 856951048981424
    Order: 5
    Author Affiliations:
    • Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, Hawthorne, CA, USA
  • Author Name: Scott Shermer
    Affiliation: Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, Hawthorne, CA, USA
    Author URL: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/author/142734633609155
    ID: 142734633609155
    Order: 6
    Author Affiliations:
    • Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, Hawthorne, CA, USA

Image Sensor

• sensor_type: CMOS
• resolution: Not specified
• dynamic_range: Not specified
• pixel_size: Not specified
• dark_current: Not specified

Optical Data

• focal_length: Not specified
• aperture: Not specified
• field_of_view: Not specified
• distortion: Not specified

Performance Metrics

Applications & Benefits

• cell_imaging: Not specified
• benefits: Not specified

Supporting Organizations

• supported_by: Space Exploration Technologies Corporation

Manuscript Details

• publication_date: April 2024

Relevancy Score

• score: 9
• missing_fields:
  • resolution
  • dynamic_range
  • pixel_size
  • dark_current
  • focal_length
  • aperture
  • field_of_view
  • distortion
  • frame_rate
  • sensitivity
  • shutter_speed
  • power_consumption
  • noise
  • cell_imaging
  • benefits

Processed JSON Filename

request_0304c615-ee1c-4dae-bccb-df472efacc66-global_ionizing_radiation_environment_mapping_using_starlink_satellite_data.json