Advanced Radiation Monitoring Solution for New Space Applications
: Lehti, Jussi; Raman, Deepa Anantha; Oleynik, Philipp; Raukunen, Osku; Säntti, Tero; Virtanen, Pasi; Hirvonen, Mika; Tiensuu, Kiira; Vainio, Rami
: N/A
: International Astronautical Congress
Publisher: International Astronautical Federation, IAF
: 2024
: 31st IAA Symposium on Small Satellite Missions: Held at the 75th International Astronautical Congress (IAC 2024)
: Proceedings of the International Astronautical Congress, IAC
: 677
: 684
: 979-8-3313-1216-9
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52202/078365-0078(external)
: https://doi.org/10.52202/078365-0078(external)
In the last decade, the need for effective space weather monitoring has increased significantly. Aboa Space Research Oy (ASRO) introduces the Relativistic Electron and Proton Experiment (REPE), an advanced radiation monitoring system for a wide range of missions and space weather applications. REPE is a compact energetic particle instrument, initially conceptualised for studying the Van Allen belts. The original development was undertaken for the nanosatellite mission (Foresail-2) as a collaborative effort between University of Turku (UTU) and ASRO. REPE measures electrons within 0.2 - 12 MeV and protons within 2 - 500 MeV energy range using a stack of three silicon detectors and a scintillator with photodiode readout. The chosen configuration enables adaptability to different energy ranges. Engineered to thrive in challenging environments, the instrument is suitable for scientific missions in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), high Earth orbits and beyond. REPE is the primary payload in the Italian HEliospheric pioNeer for sOlar and interplanetary threats defeNce (HENON) mission. The HENON mission aims to pioneer space weather forecasting and advance understanding of plasma processes by deploying a 12U CubeSat to the unexplored Distant Retrograde Orbit, demonstrating in-situ deep space monitoring and reliable CubeSat use. In addition to playing a pivotal role in upcoming space missions, REPE is the foundation of ASROs radiation monitor family comprising of additional instruments that over broader energy ranges and capability for X-ray measurements. These instruments have the same back-end design and can be merged into a single instrument, thereby making them apt for New Space applications, especially in advanced LEO nanosatellite fleet missions for space weather monitoring.
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We acknowledge the HENON consortium partners Argotec s.r.l. (Italy), Institute for Space Astrophysics and Planetology of National Institute of Astrophysics (Italy), University of Firenze (Italy), University of Calabria (Italy), SpaceDys s.r.l (Italy), Charles University (Czech Republic) and Imperial College (UK) for their contributions to the development activities of REPE for the HENON mission. We acknowledge the funding of the Research Council of Finland, grants 352847 (FORESAIL) and 359530 (RADICS).
