ESA Open Invitation to Tender AO10319
Open Date: 16/07/2020
Closing Date: 24/09/2020 13:00:00

Status: ISSUED
Reference Nr.: 20.1EP.03
Prog. Ref.: Technology Developme
Budget Ref.: E/0901-01 – Technology Developme
Special Prov.: NO+GR
Tender Type: C
Price Range: 200-500 KEURO
Products: Satellites & Probes / Payloads / Instruments / Other Instruments / Gradiometers, Plasma detectors, ¿
Technology Domains: Spacecraft Environments and Effects / Space Environment / Inflight Monitoring / Spacecraft Environments and Effects / Space Weather / Space Weather Monitoring Technology
Establishment: ESTEC
Directorate: Directorate of Tech, Eng. & Quality
Department: Electrical Department
Division: Power Systems, EMC & Space Environ.Div
Contract Officer: Seynaeve, Christophe Rene R.
Industrial Policy Measure: N/A – Not apply
Last Update Date: 16/07/2020
Update Reason: Tender issue

Missions at or near the Moon will experience a radiation environment dramatically different with respect to Near Earth trajectories. Not protected by the Earth magnetosphere, humans and systems will be affected by Galactic Cosmic Rays (GCRs) and Solar Energetic Particles (SEPs) as in deep space missions, but with characteristics modified by the presence of the Moon. GCR and SEP interactions with the Moon surface induce secondary particle production, including a significant neutron population, GCRS and SEPs and the produced secondary particles can potentially affect astronaut health via deterministic and stochastic biological effects. In addition, primary GCRs and SEPs and secondary neutrons are a threat to Moon missions because of their effects to electronic components, in particular given the high reliability requirements for mission critical systems and life support electronics of human missions. A radiationmonitor is therefore a necessary system element of a Lunar mission.The radiation monitor package shall be able to detect all components of the primary and secondary mixed radiation field. Its instruments shall be able to provide energy resolved spectra of protons, electrons, heavy ions, X-rays / gamma-rays, neutrons. In addition, dosimetry units shall provide time-resolved evolution of TotalIonising and Non-Ionising Dose (TID, TNID), biological dose, LET.Technologies that could become part of such a comprehensive package have been under development in the ESA RD programme for the past decades, including for example the recent “Highly Miniaturised ASIC Radiation Detector for human spaceflight”. The monitoring package shall also be able to provide user configurable warnings to platform systems and mission operators.This activity encompasses the following tasks:- Critical review of radiation monitor requirements and of relevant available European technologies.- Preliminary Design of comprehensive monitoring package- Prototyping and characterisation of sensor units- Breadboard of monitor package and interfacesFor implementation of the radiation monitoring package,future activities will be needed to reach higher TRL for both the individual sensor units and the system.