Spacecraft Design - Environment specification: data archive


The mission averaged integral >0.04 MeV electron flux (left) and resulting ionising dose in Si as function of Al shielding thickness (right) along
a typical Galileo spacecraft orbit for a three year mission. The AE-8 MAX flux and the SHIELDOSE-2Q dose are calculated using SPENVIS.
The service "Spacecraft Design - Environment specification: data archive" aims to provide, for past or future spacecraft, statistical information on the space environment (i.e. ionising radiation, plasma, microparticles, atmosphere, and UV) and its effects (e.g. dose, single event upset, sensor background, cumulated charge, spacecraft anomalies, microparticle impacts), as well as long-term solar cycle prediction since several spacecraft effects exhibit solar cycle variation. Such information is needed for tailored design of space systems especially in relation to radiation protection, electromagnetic compatibility and microparticle impacts. The service is intended for personnel involved in generating space environment specifications for the design of spacecraft.
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.
A number of models and in-orbit sensor datasets are made available with the help of tools and products such as:
- 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;
- 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 European Debris Impact Database (EDID) provides data processing and dissemination functions for measurements from European debris and meteoroid impact detectors;
- 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;
- 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 electron population model from Mullard Space Science Laboratory (MSSL) for LEO, MEO and GEO as function of solar wind speed and Kp index;
- the SWIFF Plasmasphere Model (SPM) dynamical simulation provides the number density and temperatures of the electrons as a function of time;
- the Satellite Risk Indicators Forecast (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 Space Weather Data Browsing and Analysis (SWE Data) provides access to space weather environment data.
This service page is curated by the ESC Space Radiation. For further information, please contact SSCC Helpdesk.

SOHO/LASCO coronagraph image showing
contamination by energetic particles
associated with solar activity (© ESA)

Impact crater (size 4 mm) on solar cell
retrieved from space (© ESA)
The space environments considered include energetic particle radiation, plasmas, atmospheres, micro-particles, and contamination. They can all cause serious problems for space systems that need to be carefully taken into account during the development of spacecraft. The radiation environment, consisting of radiation belts, cosmic rays, and solar energetic particles causes effects such as radiation damage, single-event upsets in electronics, background in detectors, and health hazards to astronauts. The plasma environment increases electrostatic charging of spacecraft parts or affects scientific instruments. The residual upper atmosphere causes surface erosion by atomic oxygen. Finally the micro-meteoroids and space debris environments introduce significant risks for manned and unmanned spacecraft.
A possible starting point when preparing space environment specifications for a spacecraft design is the Space Environment Information System (SPENVIS). This tool allows the execution of a set of space environment models based on a mission scenario (mission duration, typical spacecraft trajectories and spacecraft attitude) and to evaluate impacts and risks by propagating the results into engineering models. The tool includes graphical visualisation and an extended help with background information and references to the European standards. For a more comprehensive analysis of the space environment effects, the SPENVIS output could be exported to more specific applications, such as GRAS (Geant4 Radiation Analysis for Space) or SPIS (Spacecraft Plasma Interaction Software), that are taking into account the detailed geometry of the spacecraft.
When the available models don't include the appropriate statistical information, a tool such as SEDAT (Space Environment DATa system) could be considered. SEDAT allows a wide range of engineering analyses to be carried out using a comprehensive set of in-situ space environment datasets. The flexibility of the tool authorises the tailoring of the data processing to the problem under study and the incorporation of new datasets.
The Space Environment Standard ECSS-E-ST-10-04 (see Auxiliary Info) provides principles for determining the local induced environment and guidelines for the model and parameter selection process. The table below summarises typical programmatic concerns related to the space environment.
Thermosphere | Solar radiance | Plasma | Microparticles | Ionizing radiation | Magnetic field | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Avionics | Thermal design | Upsets due to electromagnetic interference from arcing, spacecraft charging | Electromagnetic interference due to impacts | Single event upsets, bit errors, bit switching | Induced potential effects | |
Electrical Power | Degradation of solar array performance | Solar array designs, power allocations, power system performance | Shift in floating potential, current losses, contaminant reattraction | Damage to solar cells | Decrease in solar cell output | Induced potential effects |
Guidance, navigation & control, and pointing | Overall design of GN&C and pointing system | Density and drag variation, induced gravity gradient torques | Torques due to induced potential | Collision avoidance | Sizing of magnetic torquers | |
Materials | Material selection, material degradation (atomic oxygen erosion) | Material selection, solar UV exposure | Arcing, sputtering, contamination effects on surface properties | Degradation of surface | Degradation of materials | |
Optics | Spacecraft glow, interference with sensors | Design of optical systems | Contaminant reattraction, change in surface optical properties | Degradation of surface optical properties | Darkening of windows and fibre optics | |
Propulsion | Drag makeup, fuel requirement | Density and drag variation | Shift in floating potential due to interaction of thruster firing | Collision avoidance, fuel requirement increase for shielding, pressurised tank rupture | ||
Structures | Placement of thermal sensitive structures, fatigue, thermally induced vibrations | Mass loss from arcing & sputtering, spacecraft charging effects | Structural damage, design of shielding, spacecraft weight, crew survivability | Induced current in large structures | ||
Telemetry, tracking and communication | Possible tracking error or loss | Tracking accuracy, density and drag variation | Electromagnetic interference due to arcing | Electromagnetic interference due to impacts | South Atlantic Anomaly location | |
Thermal control | Reentry loads & heating, surface degradation (atomic oxygen) | Radiator sizing, influence on reentry thermal heating | Change in absorptance/emittance properties, reattraction of contaminants | Change in thermal properties | ||
Mission operations | Reboost timelines, spacecraft lifetime assessment | Mission planning and timelines | Crew survivability | Crew replacement timelines |
For further information, please contact SSCC Helpdesk.
Solar Activity: Data Archives
Solar Activity: Models and Reconstruction
Solar Activity: Forecasts
Interplanetary Medium at L1: Data Archives
Interplanetary Medium at L1: Models and Reconstruction
- Statistical long-term plasma products - L1 p>10MeV
- Automated Multi Dataset Analysis (AMDA)
- SPENVIS Short-term solar particle models
- SPENVIS Long-term solar particle models
- SPENVIS Galactic cosmic ray models
- Very high-energy solar energetic proton fluence
- Very high-energy solar energetic proton peak flux
- Solar very high-energy particle event catalogue
- Very high-energy solar proton event database
Interplanetary Medium at L1: Forecasts
- SIDC Latest daily space weather bulletin
- Solar Wind Forecast Speed Comparison
- Near-Earth solar wind forecasts (WSA-Enlil + Ensemble)
- Empirical solar wind speed forecast
- Empirical solar wind speed forecast
- Solar wind speed forecast (STEREO-A persistence model)
- AWARE_NEXT Enhanced 24 hour solar wind forecast
Magnetospheric Environment: Data Archives
- PROBA-V/EPT Proton flux spectra time series
- PROBA-V/EPT High-latitude/polar proton flux survey
- AZUR/EI-88 dataset on SEDAT
- GOES/SEM-EPS datasets on SEDAT
- UARS/PEM-HEPS dataset on SEDAT
- PROBA-1/SREM dataset on SEDAT
- Integral/SREM dataset on SEDAT
- IMP-8/CPME and CRNC datasets on SEDAT
- MIR/REM dataset on SEDAT
- STRV1B/REM dataset on SEDAT
- XMM/ERMD dataset on SEDAT
- SEPEM Reference proton data set
- Raw and cleaned GOES/SEM proton channels in SEPEM
- Raw IMP8/CPME proton channels in SEPEM
- Raw and cleaned IMP8/GME proton channels in SEPEM
- HESPERIA UMASEP-500
- PROBA-1/SREM radiation rates
- Integral/SREM radiation rates
- EDRS-C/NGRM L2 Proton Fluxes
- PROBA-V/EPT Helium flux spectra time series
- PROBA-V/EPT High-latitude/polar helium flux survey
- AZUR/EI-88 dataset on SEDAT
- GOES/SEM-EPS datasets on SEDAT
- METOP02/SEM2 dataset on SEDAT
- IMP-8/CPME and CRNC datasets on SEDAT
- POES/SEM-2 datasets on SEDAT
- SEPEM Reference helium data set
- Raw and cleaned GOES/SEM helium channels in SEPEM
- Raw IMP8/CPME ion channels in SEPEM
- Raw IMP8/CPME helium channels in SEPEM
- Raw and cleaned IMP8/GME helium channels in SEPEM
- Automated Multi Dataset Analysis (AMDA)
- AZUR/EI-88 dataset on SEDAT
- GOES/SEM-EPS datasets on SEDAT
- UARS/PEM-HEPS dataset on SEDAT
- IMP-8/CPME and CRNC datasets on SEDAT
- XMM/ERMD dataset on SEDAT
- SEPEM Reference proton data set
- Raw and cleaned GOES/SEM proton channels in SEPEM
- Raw IMP8/CPME proton channels in SEPEM
- Raw and cleaned IMP8/GME proton channels in SEPEM
- AZUR/EI-88 dataset on SEDAT
- GOES/SEM-EPS datasets on SEDAT
- IMP-8/CPME and CRNC datasets on SEDAT
- SEPEM Reference helium data set
- Raw and cleaned GOES/SEM helium channels in SEPEM
- Raw IMP8/CPME ion channels in SEPEM
- Raw IMP8/CPME helium channels in SEPEM
- Raw and cleaned IMP8/GME helium channels in SEPEM
- Automated Multi Dataset Analysis (AMDA)
- GOES-16 Radiation Environment
- GOES-15 Radiation Environment
- GOES-14 Radiation Environment
- GIOVE-A Radiation Environment
- Slot Region Radiation Environment
- MOSWOC Forecast
- Forecaster Summary
- Best Reconstruction of the Radiation Environment (GOES-15)
- Best Reconstruction of the Radiation Environment (GOES-14)
- Best Reconstruction of the Radiation Environment (GIOVE-A)
- Best Reconstruction of the Radiation Environment (slot)
- Best Reconstruction of the Radiation Environment (GOES-16)
- PROBA-V/EPT Electron flux spectra time series
- PROBA-V/EPT High-latitude/polar electron flux survey
- GOES/SEM-EPS datasets on SEDAT
- Meteosat-3/SEM2 dataset on SEDAT
- METOP02/SEM2 dataset on SEDAT
- CRRES/MEA dataset on SEDAT
- Equator_S/EPI dataset on SEDAT
- PROBA-1/SREM dataset on SEDAT
- Integral/SREM dataset on SEDAT
- IMP-8/CPME and CRNC datasets on SEDAT
- ISEE1/MEPI dataset on SEDAT
- ISEE1/KED dataset on SEDAT
- MIR/REM dataset on SEDAT
- STRV1B/REM dataset on SEDAT
- POES/SEM-2 datasets on SEDAT
- XMM/ERMD dataset on SEDAT
- Raw GOES/SEM >2 MeV electron channel in SEPEM
- Raw IMP8/CPME electron channels in SEPEM
- Raw IMP8/GME electron channels in SEPEM
- PROBA-1/SREM radiation rates
- Integral/SREM radiation rates
- EDRS-C/NGRM L2 Electron Fluxes
Magnetospheric Environment: (Near-) Real-time Measurements
Magnetospheric Environment: Models and Reconstruction
- PROBA-V/EPT Proton flux geographical maps
- PROBA-V/EPT SAA proton energy spectrum characterisation
- Static radiation model of energetic protons at LEO
- SEPEM Reference event list
- SPENVIS Standard radiation belt models
- SPENVIS IRENE Radiation belt models
- SPENVIS Short-term solar particle models
- SPENVIS Long-term solar particle models
- SPENVIS Galactic cosmic ray models
- Very high-energy solar energetic proton fluence
- Very high-energy solar energetic proton peak flux
- Very high-energy solar proton event database
- EDRS-C/NGRM Particle Daily Fluences
- PROBA-V/EPT Helium flux geographical maps
- PROBA-V/EPT SAA helium energy spectrum characterisation
- Static radiation model of energetic helium ions at LEO
- SPENVIS Short-term solar particle models
- SPENVIS Long-term solar particle models
- SPENVIS Galactic cosmic ray models
- High-energy solar heavy ion fluence model
- High-energy solar heavy ion peak flux
- Automated Multi Dataset Analysis (AMDA)
- PROBA-V/EPT Electron flux geographical maps
- PROBA-V/EPT Auroral electron energy spectrum characterisation
- Static radiation model of energetic electrons at LEO
- SPENVIS Standard radiation belt models
- SPENVIS IRENE Radiation belt models
- SPENVIS Internal deep dielectric charging
- EDRS-C/NGRM Particle Daily Fluences
Magnetospheric Environment: Forecasts
Thermospheric and Atmospheric Conditions: Data Archives
Thermospheric and Atmospheric Conditions: Models and Reconstruction
Thermospheric and Atmospheric Conditions: Forecasts
Microparticle Environment: Data Archives
Microparticle Environment: Models and Reconstruction
Microparticle Environment: Forecasts
Spacecraft Effects and Anomalies: Data Archives
- Radiation environment outside the ISS
- Radiation environment inside ISS
- Accumulated dose in human phantoms on ISS
- PROBA-1/SREM dataset on SEDAT
- Integral/SREM dataset on SEDAT
- Rosetta/SREM dataset on SEDAT
- Herschel/SREM dataset on SEDAT
- Planck/SREM dataset on SEDAT
- MIR/REM dataset on SEDAT
- STRV1B/REM dataset on SEDAT
- PROBA-1/SREM radiation rates
- Integral/SREM radiation rates
- Rosetta/SREM radiation rates
- Herschel/SREM radiation rates
- Planck/SREM radiation rates
- GOES-16 Total Ionising Dose and Dose Rate
- GOES-15 Total Ionising Dose and Dose Rate
- GOES-14 Total Ionising Dose and Dose Rate
- GIOVE-A Total Ionising Dose and Dose Rate
- Slot Region Total Ionising Dose and Dose Rate
- PROBA-V/EPT Total ionizing dose alert at LEO
- PROBA-V/EPT Total non-ionizing dose alert at LEO
- Radiation environment outside the ISS
- Radiation environment inside ISS
- Accumulated dose in human phantoms on ISS
Spacecraft Effects and Anomalies: Models and Reconstruction
Long-term Solar Cycle Prediction
SPENVIS (Space Environment Information System) is a web-based interface for assessing the space environment and its effects on spacecraft systems and crews. The system is used for mission analysis and planning. SPENVIS includes several empirical models of the space environment covering mainly cosmic rays, solar energetic particles, the natural radiation belts, magnetic fields, space plasmas and the upper atmosphere. A range of engineering models are also available to help assess the effects of the space environment on spacecraft such as surface and internal charging, energy deposition, solar cell damage and SEU rates. Usually these later models take their inputs from the empirical models present in SPENVIS. The system also includes extensive background information on the space environment, the environment models and the related standards.
SEDAT (Space Environment Data System) is a tool for the engineering analysis of spacecraft charged particle environments. The facility provides access to the ODI database containing a large and comprehensive set of data about that environment as measured in-situ by a number of space missions. The user can select a set of space environment data appropriate to the engineering problem under study. SEDAT also offers a set of software tools, which can operate on the data retrieved from the database. These tools allow the user to carry out a wide range of engineering analyses. SEDAT is using a GUI written in Java.
The Space Research Laboratory Solar Energetic Particles (UTU-SEP) products consist of several tools to calculate expected very high-energy solar energetic particle environment specifications for mission durations between 0.5 and 7 years: cumulative and worst-case event fluences for very high-energy (10-1000 MeV) protons, peak flux for very high-energy (330-700 MeV) protons, cumulative and worst-case fluences for high-energy (13-100 MeV/n) heavy ions. A catalogue of SEP events based on SOHO/ERNE observations of 55-80 MeV protons is also provided containing information on event start and end times (protons and electrons), peak intensity (high-energy protons and electrons), proton and heavy ion fluence, and information on associated solar flares and CMEs.
SEPEM (Solar Energetic Particle Environment Modelling) is a WWW interface to solar energetic particle data and a range of modelling tools and functionalities intended to support space mission design. The system provides an implementation of several well known modelling methodologies, built on cleaned datasets. It also gives the user increased flexibility in his/her analysis and allows generation of mission integrated fluence statistics, peak flux statistics and other functionalities. It also integrates effects tools that calculate single event upset rates and radiation doses for a variety of scenarios.
EDID (European Debris Impact Database) provides automated data processing and dissemination functions for measurements retrieved from European debris and meteoroids impact detectors. It covers impacts from the DEBIE-1, DEBIE-2 and GORID detectors. Users can access more than 3,000,000 debris and micro-meteoroid event records plus sensor and spacecraft housekeeping data via a user-friendly web interface. Filters can be defined for each available parameter and be used for regular data retrieval.
SWE Data is a web application that provides access to a wide range of Space Weather related data sources covering the areas of the spacecraft, ionospheric, and ground effects. SWE Data allows the user to access all data contained in the repository providing analysis and visualisation tools from these disparate sources.
The AMDA system provides an archive of planetary, solar wind, Earth magnetosphere and ionosphere mission and ground based products. In addition it supports a range of standard models such as magnetic footprints, magnetic fields, solar wind propagation to planets and probes as well as access to external databases of observations and simulations. A key functionality of the system is its embedded plotting, data mining and cataloguing functionalities which are extremely useful in relation to posteriori analysis.
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-ST-20-06C Spacecraft charging (15 May 2019)
- ECSS-E-ST-10-12C Method for the calculation of radiation received and its effects, and a policy for design margins (issued on 15 November 2008)
- ECSS-E-HB-10-12A Calculation of radiation and its effects and margin policy handbook (issued on 17 December 2010)