The Natural Radiation Environment inside Spacecraft

Abstract

The natural radiation environment in space has been shown to produce soft upsets in satellite-borne microelectronics. This environment varies with time, with position in the earth's magnetosphere and with depth inside the spacecraft. The nature of these variations will be described and the uncertainties that result from deficiencies in our basic knowledge of the environment will be discussed. Only those radiation components that can cause soft upsets will be considered in this report.