Anomalies of the ADSP 21060 Onboard the DEMETER Satellite

Abstract

The micro-computer ADSP21060 (Analog Device) of the DEMETER satellite experienced a number of anomalies referenced as Single Event Effects (SEE). The events recorded outside the south Atlantic anomaly are not correlated to solar flare protons. The two main potential causes of these anomalies are the SEUs induced by the cosmic rays and the electrostatic discharge pulses able to trigger within the ADSP21060 some transients analogous to a single event effect. Both hypotheses are analysed. A correlation of the DEMETER's anomalies with the particles fluxes of the space environment has been performed using the IPSAT toolkit . A direct comparison of the DEMETER's anomalies is performed with the SEUs measured onboard the SAC-C satellite that flies on a similar orbit , . The correlation with internal charging/discharging phenomenon is also investigated by means of a simple electrical potential calculation.