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Active TRL 4 (started at 4, targeting 8)
The Compact Electron Proton Spectrometer (CEPS) Development project will design, develop and deliver CEPS instruments for long term operational space weather and radiation monitoring. The primary science goal is to provide topical and timely Solar Energetic Particle data that are the direct inputs for space weather nowcasting models. The CEPS External to Vehicle (CEPS-EV) detector is being developed for this purpose. Nowcasting models are used operationally by NASA for crew protection during exploration missions. CEPS-EV will also provide valuable data for the wider Helio physics community.
CEPS-EV is expected to offer this capability in a 4W package with a 1U form factor including an avionics package designed for a 10-year lifespan outside of a spacecraft (in free space). CEPS-EV achieves this by using a pixelated 1mm thick Cadmium Telluride (CdTe) sensor attached to a Timepix2 ASIC. The pixel detector architecture also offers a number of additional advantages over conventional ‘silicon telescope’ designs including superior proton and electron separation and pile-up-free operation from Galactic Cosmic Ray (GCR) flux rates through the very largest Space Weather events. While Timepix2 CdTe is a new technology for use in space, the CEPS-EV hardware development benefits from a strong program of designing, manufacturing, delivering and flying radiation measurement flight hardware for crew protection, exploration and scientific measurement.
A CEPS Internal to Vehicle (CEPS-IV) variant of the CEPS instrument will also be developed to meet NASA’s operational monitoring requirements for long duration lunar surface and Mars missions. The CEPS-IV will use the same radiation-hardened avionics to deliver a high-reliability radiation monitor with a 10-year operational lifetime for spacecraft and habitat interiors.
This effort will focus on the development and delivery of CEPS instruments. This will entail the delivery of CEPS-EV and CEPS-IV instruments for technology demonstrations on Gateway or another spacecraft, which will result in TRL8 instruments ready for infusion into a flight program such as the Artemis pressurized rover. Intermediate goals (thru FY27) include PDR, CDR and construction, test and environmental qualification and science verification of a TRL6 CEPS-EV qualification unit. Development of the CEPS-IV will trail that of the CEPS-EV, with an initial design and prototype completed by the end of FY27.
This project will provide an external instrument on the vehicle that can monitor the electron levels to support predictive responses for upcoming Solar Particle Events (SPE), which will expand the time crew has to prepare for large solar events. When used with space weather modeling tools, this detector is expected to increase warning time from zero minutes for Earth-Independent missions, if no external space weather monitor is provided, to 30 minutes. This project will also provide an internal instrument needed for operational monitoring for long duration missions and missions with long lead times.
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