Welcome to the Spacecraft Operation - In-orbit environment and effects monitoring service

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

• the Next Generation Radiation Monitor (NGRM) on EDRS-C provides measurements of energetic electrons and proton fluxes at GEO orbit;
• the Energetic Particle Telescope (EPT) on PROBA-V provides measurements of energetic electron, proton and helium fluxes at LEO orbit;
• the Standard Radiation Environment Monitors (SREM) on PROBA-1, Integral and Rosetta provide measurements of the particle radiation environment;
• the Satellite Risk Indicators Forecasts (SaRIF) provides colour-coded risk indicators showing the risk from internal charging and total ionising dose for the outer radiation belt and slot region;
• the Space Environment Data System (SEDAT) allows engineering analyses to be carried out on datasets related to the spacecraft charged particle environments (Currently under maintenance);
• 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. 

Throughout its existence, the Sun goes through various nonstationary active and nonequilibrium (often eruptive) processes; this can be broadly regarded as solar activity. Solar activity covers solar surface magnetic activity, eruptive phenomena, interplanetary transients, geomagnetic disturbances, and phenomena that may affect the functioning of spacecraft. For this reason spacecraft and solar activity are monitored 24/7 by spacecraft operators.

From the Products section, a range of products can be accessed that are useful for spacecraft operators.

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). The SIDC also provides a daily space weather bulletin. Information on the interplanetary magnetic field and solar wind conditions are provided by the SW/L1 and (Nowcast and Forecast Indices for Atmospheric Drag Calculation) FORIND products.

Energetic particle flux measurements from the Next Generation Radiation Monitor (NGRM) on board EDRS-C at geosynchronous equatorial orbit (GEO) and the Energetic Particle Telescope (EPT) on board PROBA-V at low earth orbit (LEO) can be accessed. 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 SEP/E product provide information on the near-Earth energetic particle conditions based on GOES measurements. Several other particle radiation measurements are available through the Space Weather Data Browsing and Analysis (SWE Data) web interface and the Space Environment Data System (SEDAT) as well. The SaRIF product provides a nowcast for spacecraft effects and the radiation environment in the outer radiation belt and slot region.

Nowcast for geomagnetic indices like K, Kp, Aa, Ap, Hp, and Dst and geomagnetic storm conditions 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), and ROB/SIDC.

Information on the current and nowcasted ionospheric, thermospheric and atmospheric conditions is provided through several monitoring centres and facilities, like the Ionosphere Monitoring and Prediction Center (IMPC), the Real-Time Ionosphere Monitor (RTIM), the European Ionosonde Service (EIS), the Ionosphere Monitoring Facility (IONMON), Service Supporting Resource Exploitation System Operators (RESOSS).

From the Tools section, a range of tools are accessible to support spacecraft operators. A large set of measurements can also be accessed through the Space Weather Data Browsing and Analysis (SWE Data) web interface.

Auxiliary Information

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)

For further information, please contact the SSCC Helpdesk.