nerc.ac.uk

The Satellite Risk Prediction and Radiation Forecast System (SaRIF)

Horne, Richard B. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0412-6407; Glauert, Sarah A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0149-8608; Kirsch, Peter ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2482-0217; Heynderickx, Daniel; Bingham, Suzy; Thorn, Peter; Curran, Barbara-Ann; Pitchford, David; Haggarty, Ewan; Wade, David; Keil, Ralf. 2021 The Satellite Risk Prediction and Radiation Forecast System (SaRIF). Space Weather, 19 (12), e2021SW002823. 21, pp. 10.1029/2021SW002823

Before downloading, please read NORA policies.
[thumbnail of Open Access]
Preview
Text (Open Access)
© 2021. The Authors.
Space Weather - 2021 - Horne - The Satellite Risk Prediction and Radiation Forecast System SaRIF.pdf - Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution 4.0.

Download (3MB) | Preview

Abstract/Summary

With new satellite constellations being launched into low Earth orbit, the growing use of medium Earth orbit for radio-navigation and timing signals, slot region orbits for telecommunications and the introduction of electric propulsion to reach geostationary orbit, there is a growing need to develop services to protect satellites from space weather. Here we highlight two recent events in relation to satellite operations. We summarise ten user needs that arose out of meetings with satellite operators, designers, underwriters and space agency staff. We present the satellite risk prediction and radiation forecast (SaRIF) system which is designed to meet most of these needs. The system uses real-time data as input to the BAS radiation belt model (BAS-RBM) to solve the Fokker Planck equation and provides a forecast of the electron flux throughout the outer radiation belt with 1-hour resolution up to 24 hours ahead. The electron flux is used to calculate charging currents, and is combined with GOES near real time proton fluxes to calculate dose rate and total ionizing dose behind set levels of shielding for satellites in Medium Earth orbit, Geostationary orbit and slot region orbits. The results are compared against design standards and presented as risk indicators to forecast the risk of damage. The system works automatically and is updated every hour. We also present data and a best reconstruction of the radiation environment which are held in a searchable archive for satellite anomaly resolution. The SaRIF system is available via the European Space Agency space weather web portal.

Item Type: Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI): 10.1029/2021SW002823
ISSN: 1539-4956
Additional Keywords: radiation belts, forecasting, satellite anomalies
Date made live: 07 Dec 2021 17:47 +0 (UTC)
URI: https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/530495

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item

Document Downloads

Downloads for past 30 days

Downloads per month over past year

More statistics for this item...