CREEP Configuration

CREEP experiments have been chosen to provide complementary, high-quality data on various particle species over a wide energy range. Directional particle flux information, important at ISS altitudes due to the East-West proton flux anisotropy, will also be available (click here to see a possible CREEP arrangement). The effects of the space radiation environment on a number of critical electronics components will additionally be studied. In its initial configuration, CREEP will contain the following sub-units:

SREM

The Standard Radiation Environment Monitor (SREM), designed under ESA, is a follow-on of the highly successful REM instrument, and measures electrons (>0.5 MeV), protons (>10 MeV), and heavy ions qualitatively. The weight of the device is 2.5 kg, power consumption 2.6 W, and the volume approximately 2 liters. The instrument can house a number of both external and internal dosimeters (RADFETs). It is foreseen that two SREM units will be implemented in CREEP, yielding directional particle information. Since SREM is capable of providing a radiation alarm flag, it can also be used during solar storms as a warning device for Space Station astronaut safety. SREM measurements will be made available in real time and, in due course, implemented as a part of the overall SREM measurement data base at the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), Switzerland, together with data from other SREM units in other missions

Principal Investigator: Dr. Paul Buehler (PSI)

CREAX

CREAX is a follow-on device of the CREAM and CREDO modules constructed and flown by DERA (UK) on various missions, including several flights on the Space Shuttle. The instrument is optimised for cosmic ray detection, although protons and electrons are also detected, and can provide directional information. As with SREM, there is also a possibility for a number of internal and external RADFETs. CREAX weighs 2.4 kg, has a power consumption of 3-5 W, and a volume of about 2 litres.

Principal Investigator: Prof. Clive Dyer (DERA)

SPICA

The SPICA module was originally developed by CNES and ONERA/DESP (F) for the MIR99 mission, based on an earlier radiation monitor type included in ESA’s X-ray Multi-Mirror satellite (XMM) and a component module based on the ONERA EXEQ experiment.  The instrument measures electrons (>0.1 MeV), protons (>4 MeV), and heavy ions (1-100 MeV/mg/cm2) with high spectral resolution. The weight of SPICA is 3 kg, power consumption 6-7 W, and volume 4 litres. Data from this instrument will complement in energy and direction those from the two SREM units.

Principal Investigator: Dr. Didier Falguere (ONERA/DESP)

PM & DDM

The Proton and Dose-Depth Monitors (PM and DDM) are designed and constructed by Thomson & Nielsen Electronics Ltd (TN). The PM is designed for proton-induced Single Event Upset (SEU) detection from protons > 30 MeV. The DDM measures total ionising radiation doses behind four different thicknesses of aluminum representing spacecraft shielding. The first versions of these instruments will fly on the STRV 1-c satellite.  The radiation response of each instrument is available in real time.  The mass of the PM is 0.3 kg, power consumption 0.4W, and volume ~ 0.3 litres.  The mass of the DDM is 0.5 kg, power consumption 0.9 W and volume ~ 0.4 litres.

Principal Investigator:  Dr. Ian Thomson (TN)

CTTB

The Columbus Technology Test-Bed (CTTB) is intended to carry a number of experiments ranging from Commercial Off-The-Shelf digital and analogue components to photonics components. The CTTB infrastructure (i.e. the way it support the sub-experiments it contains) and the overall CREEP infrastructure share many common requirements, so the CREEP and CTTB data handling functions might be common.

Principal Investigator: A. Mohammadzadeh (ESA)