Investigating Space Radiation Environment Effects on Communication of Razaksat-1

Authors

Keywords:

Low earth orbit, Linear energy transfer, Total ionizing dose, Non-ionizing energy loss

Abstract

This study attempted to identify whether space radiation sources could have affected the communication on RazakSAT-1 that was orbiting in a Low Earth Orbit-Near Equatorial (LEO-NEqO). Data on galactic cosmic rays (GCR), trapped protons, trapped electrons, and solar energetic particles (SEPs) obtained from Space Environment Information System (SPENVIS)are considered. The effects of these radiation sources are analyzed using the linear energy transfer (LET), total ionizing dose(TID), and solar cell degradation. Flux data from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) 15, 16, and 17 satellites, and the geomagnetic conditions during the time when RazakSAT-1’s missing is also analyzed. Another two satellites, Satélite de Coleta de Dados (SCD-2) and Advanced Land Observation Satellite (ALOS), are compared with the performance of RazakSAT-1. Results showed that GCR dominated at a high energy range of 103 MeV and above in the LEO-NEqO, whereas the energies of the trapped protons and trapped electrons are less than 400 MeV and 4 MeV, respectively. There are no SEPs estimated during the mission period (2009 – 2011). Based on the SPENVIS, SCD-2 and ALOS are more exposed to higher radiation damage than RazakSAT-1. Thus, an analysis of space radiation environment effects on the RazakSAT-1 communication lost after one year of operation will be discussed further, as a platform to fi nd the best strategy for future missions.

Author Biographies

Wayan Suparta, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

I am an Associate Professor  since April 2012 at the Space Science Centre (ANGKASA), Institute of Climate Change of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (formerly known as the Institute of Space Science), which previously appointed as a Senior Lecturer (July 2008 – March 2012) and Post Doctoral Fellow (2007-2008). His research interests involved GPS Meteorology applications, Aerospace sciences, Communications (Remote Sensing), Artificial Neural Network applications and Space meteorology.

Siti Katrina Zulkeple, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

She received a Master's degree (2016) from the Space Science Centre, IPI, UKM and the Bachelor (2012) from the School of Applied Physics, Faculty of Science and Technology, UKM. She has expertise in the operation and simulation of SPENVIS and Geant4 to study the space environment as well as interested in the study of nuclear physics.

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Published

2018-05-03

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Section

Original Papers