Space Environment

Space environment

Space environment is a branch of astronautics, aerospace engineering and space physics that seeks to understand and address conditions existing in space that affect the operation of spacecraft. A related subject, space weather, deals with dynamic processes in the solar-terrestrial system that can give rise to effects on spacecraft, but that can also affect the atmosphere, ionosphere and geomagnetic field, giving rise to several other kinds of effects on human technologies.

Effects on spacecraft can arise from radiation, space debris and meteoroid impact, upper atmospheric drag and spacecraft electrostatic charging.

Overview

The Space Environments and Technology Archive System (SETAS) has been established to preserve and provide easy access to the diverse collection of space environments and technology (SET) resources. The resources are organized according to technical disciplines and data sources.

The technical disciplines are meant to encompass the varied aspects of the space environment and their effects. These include ionizing radiation, meteoroids and debris, neutral external contamination, plasmas and fields, thermal and solar, electromagnetic effects, materials and processes, and systems.

SPACE ENVIRONMENT IMPACTS ON SYSTEMS

The origin of space environmental impacts on radar, communications and space systems lies primarily with the sun. The sun is continuously emitting electromagnetic energy and electrically charged particles. Superimposed on these emissions are enhancements in the electromagnetic radiation (particularly at X-ray, Extreme Ultra Violet (EUV) and Radio wavelengths) and in the energetic charged particle streams emitted by the sun. These solar radiation enhancements have a significant potential to influence DOD operations.

Space environment

Space environment is a branch of astronautics, aerospace engineering and space physics that seeks to understand and address conditions existing in space that affect the operation of spacecraft. A related subject, space weather, deals with dynamic processes in the solar-terrestrial system that can give rise to effects on spacecraft, but that can also affect the atmosphere, ionosphere and geomagnetic field, giving rise to several other kinds of effects on human technologies.

Effects on spacecraft can arise from radiation, space debris and meteoroid impact, upper atmospheric drag and spacecraft electrostatic charging.

Overview

The Space Environments and Technology Archive System (SETAS) has been established to preserve and provide easy access to the diverse collection of space environments and technology (SET) resources. The resources are organized according to technical disciplines and data sources.

The technical disciplines are meant to encompass the varied aspects of the space environment and their effects. These include ionizing radiation, meteoroids and debris, neutral external contamination, plasmas and fields, thermal and solar, electromagnetic effects, materials and processes, and systems.

Space Environment Impacts on Systems

The origin of space environmental impacts on radar, communications and space systems lies primarily with the sun. The sun is continuously emitting electromagnetic energy and electrically charged particles. Superimposed on these emissions are enhancements in the electromagnetic radiation (particularly at X-ray, Extreme Ultra Violet (EUV) and Radio wavelengths) and in the energetic charged particle streams emitted by the sun. These solar radiation enhancements have a significant potential to influence DOD operations.