ESA Open Invitation to Tender: 1-11333
Open Date: 18/05/2022 15:59 CEST
Closing Date: 10/08/2022 13:00 CEST

Space Safety/Space Weather end users including aircraft operators and human spaceflight have need of real-time solar particle data. A constellation of small satellites carrying scintillators or Cherenkov detectors with known single (integral) channel responses could provide this information. Using the range of magnetic latitudes occupied by spacecraft simultaneously would allow real-time spectral reconstruction.The development will establish the sensor design with an energy threshold (>300 MeV/nuc) for detecting high-energy solar energetic particles and Galactic Cosmic Rays with the possibility for particle species discrimination. This will complement the capabilities of ‘standard’ space radiation environment monitors, which typically have their upper energy limit at 200-300 MeV/nuc. This missing energy range, relevant especially for Space Weather and avionics applications for e.g. Single Event Effects analyses, will thereby be covered.Sensor concept based on scintillators / Cerenkov detectors that shall be optimized with extensive radiation environment and transport simulations, while at the same time minimizing the interference from trapped electrons in the Earth’sradiation belts.This activity encompasses the following tasks:- Survey of possible technologies and techniques for the sensor (nominally scintillator/Cerenkov detector-based)- Detailed design work including simulations and orbital analyses for Solar Energetic Particles, Galactic Cosmic Rays and trapped protons/electrons in the Earth’s radiation belts- Necessary pre-developments started for eventual higher-TRL implementationProcurement Policy: C(1) = Activity restricted to non-prime contractors (incl. SMEs). For additional information please go to this link.

Estabilishment: ESTEC
ECOS Required: No
Classified: No
Price Range: 200-500 KEURO
Authorised Contact Person: Mateusz Knuter
Initiating Service: TEC-EPS
IP Measure: C1
Prog. Reference: E/0901-01 – Technology Developme
Tender Type: Open Competition
Open To Tenderers From: AT+BE+CH+CZ+DE+DK+EE+GR+ES+FI+FR+GB+HU+IE+IT+LU+NL+NO+PL+PT+RO+SE
Technology Keywords: 4-A-II-Inflight Monitoring / 4-C-II-Space Weather Monitoring Technology
Products Keywords: 2-I-4-a-Gradiometers, Plasma detectors,…