Space Weather

The proton flux measured by SOHO/ERNE and observed GOES SXR flux
during the 13 December 2006 SEP event.

The service “Spacecraft Operation - Post event analysis” aims to provide the possibility to correlate a particular spacecraft effect experienced during the operation of a spacecraft with space environment data. To obtain a quantitative assessment of the space environment at a given time in the past, the ESA Space Weather Service Network provides an archive of the monitoring of phenomena that can lead to potentially hazardous and sudden effects on spacecraft (e.g. magnetic storms, substorms, high-speed streams, solar energetic particle events, Earth-directed CMEs, meteor streams, and debris clouds). The space environment data near the location of the spacecraft can then be compared to specific spacecraft conditions in terms of the observed effects or anomalies.

The service is intended for personnel such as spacecraft operators who want to understand the cause of observed effects or anomalies in spacecraft (e.g. SEE, ESD, errors in magnetorquing and sudden drag-induced orbit changes in LEO) in order to take the necessary precautions in case similar space weather conditions occur again, and and use this information for future spacecraft models or versions.

This service is implemented through a combination of products and tools which can be found through the following tabs along with expert support provided by the teams constituting the ESA Space Weather Service Network. Should you require further guidance in the use of this service, or have specific questions about any aspects of the service presented here, don’t hesitate to contact the Helpdesk.

EPT

SREM

UTU-SEP

EDID

SEDAT

SEPEM

SWE Data

SIDC

SPENVIS

SaRIF

A set of models and in-orbit sensor datasets are provided with the help of tools and products such as:

• measurements and derived data products from the Energetic Particle Telescope (EPT) on PROBA-V;
• measurements and derived data products from the Standard Radiation Environment Monitors (SREM) on Proba-1, Integral, Rosetta, Herschel and Planck;
• the Space Research Laboratory Solar Energetic Particles (UTU-SEP) products provide access to a high energy SEP event list as well as the calculation of the expected high energy proton fluence and worst-case proton flux for a specific mission length due to SEPs;
• the European Debris Impact Database (EDID) provides data processing and dissemination functions for measurements from European debris and meteoroid impact detectors;
• the Space Environment Data System (SEDAT) allows engineering analyses to be carried out on datasets related to the spacecraft charged particle environments;
• the Solar Energetic Particle Environment Modelling application (SEPEM) allowing solar energetic particle statistical analyses on an extended set of cross-calibrated data;
• the Space Weather Data Browsing and Analysis (SWE Data) provides access to space weather environment data.
• SaRIF provides colour-coded risk indicators showing the risk from internal charging and total ionising dose for the outer radiation belt and slot region, as well as a recontruction of these environments;
• the Solar Influences Data analysis Center (SIDC) Solarmap allows the user to display solar features (such as sunspots, coronal holes, filaments, etc.) on the solar disc, and navigate back and forth in time;
• the Space Environment Information System (SPENVIS) coupling several empirical and engineering models of the space environment and its effects on spacecraft or components based on a mission plan;

This service page is curated by the ESC Space Radiation. For further information, please contact SSCC Helpdesk. 

Transient space weather phenomena (e.g. solar flares, coronal mass ejections, solar energetic particles, ...) can cause sudden and large changes in the space environment. Although spacecraft, equipment and components are designed to operate in this harsh and changing environment, space weather events can still cause anomalous behavior. In particular, an increase can occur in:

• rates of destructive and non-destructive single event effects;
• surface potentials;
• internal charging levels;
• dose and non-ionising energy loss degradation;
• magnetic torque deviations;
• drag causing orbit alteration;
• EM interference;
• comminucation distruptions.

From the Products tab, a range of products can be accessed that provide information on space weather events and the space environment conditions during a specific time in the past. Measurements and detection of solar flares and coronal mass ejections are available from the Solar Influences Data Analysis Center (SIDC) and the Kanzelhöhe Observatory (KSO). Solar wind conditions in the near-Earth environment can be obtained through the Product Browser of the Heliospheric Weather Expert Service Centre (HPARC). A catalogue of very high-energy solar particle events is provided by the University of Turku (UTU). An archive of energetic particle flux measurements (electrons, protons and helium) from the Energetic Particle Telescope (EPT) on board PROBA-V at LEO orbit can be accessed, as well as daily radiation situation reports comparing the measurements from several Standard Radiation Environment Monitors (SREM) in various key regions with reference particle rates are provided. The Solar Energetic Particle Environment Modelling (SEPEM) application server provides a reference event list for solar energetic protons, a reference data set for protons and helium, and tools to perform solar energetic particle statistical analyses on an extended set of cross-calibrated data. Besides forecasts for spacecraft effects and the radiation environment for the outer radiation belt and slot region, the SaRIF product also provides a post event reconstruction for the energetic electron spectra in those regions based on the BAS-RBM model. Archive of various geomagnetic indices are provided by the British Geological Survey (BGS), the Danish Technical University (DTU K, StormRisk), the Institute of Space Science Romania (FORIND), the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ, GFZ Hpo), the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) and the SIDC.

From the Tools tab, a range of tools are accessible to support post event analyses for spacecraft operators. A large set of measurements can also be accessed through the Space Weather Data Browsing and Analysis (SWE Data) and AMDA web interfaces. The European Debris Impact Database (EDID) contains large database of events measured from debris and meteoroid impact detectors together with includes spacecraft housekeeping data. In order to understand the specific impact on a spacecraft, a tool such as the Space Environment Information System (SPENVIS) could be considered. This tool allows the execution of a set of space environment models based on a mission scenario. For this specific service, one could for instance look at differences between quiet and active space environment conditions.

A detailed overview of the typical programmatic concerns related to the space environment is provided in the User Manual of the service page for "Spacecraft Design - Environment specification: data archive".

For further information, please contact the SSCC Helpdesk. 

No alerts are associated with this service.

This section provides links to web pages or resources that are not part of the ESA Space Weather Service Network or esa.int domain.  These sites are not under ESA control, and therefore ESA is not responsible for any of the information or links that you may find there. 

Reference documents

• ECSS-E-ST-10-04C Space environment (15 June 2020)
• ECSS-E-HB-10-12A Calculation of radiation and its effects and margin policy handbook (issued on 17 December 2010)