On-orbit degradation of recent space-based solar instruments and understanding of the degradation processes

Mustapha Meftah (1) , Marie Dominique (2) , Ali Benmoussa (2) , Ingolf Dammasch (2) , David Bolsée (3) , Nuno Pereira (3) , Luc Damé (4) , Slimane Bekki (1) , Alain Hauchecorne (1)

1 STRATO - LATMOS
2 STCE - Solar-Terrestrial Centre of Excellence [Brussels]
3 BIRA-IASB - Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy / Institut d'Aéronomie Spatiale de Belgique
4 HELIOS - LATMOS

The space environment is considered hazardous to spacecraft, resulting in materials degradation. Understanding the degradation of space-based instruments is crucial in order to achieve the scientific objectives, which are derived from these instruments. This paper discusses the on-orbit performance degradation of recent spacebased solar instruments. We will focus on the instruments of three space-based missions such as the Project for On-Board Autonomy 2 (PROBA2) spacecraft, the Solar Monitoring Observatory (SOLAR) payload onboard the Columbus science Laboratory of the International Space Station (ISS) and the PICARD spacecraft. Finally, this paper intends to understand the degradation processes of these space-based solar instruments.

Domains: Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysic [astro-ph.IM]; Solar and Stellar Astrophysics [astro-ph.SR]

Mustapha Meftah, Marie Dominique, Ali Benmoussa, Ingolf Dammasch, David Bolsée, et al.. On-orbit degradation of recent space-based solar instruments and understanding of the degradation processes. Proc. SPIE 10196, Sensors and Systems for Space Applications X, Apr 2017, Anaheim, California, United States. id. 1019606 (13 pp.), ⟨10.1117/12.2250031⟩. ⟨insu-01571836⟩