Space Environment

Missions

Ever since its creation in 1967, the DESP's objective has been to evaluate the environmental conditions of space missions and prevent the damage they may cause.

Areas of expertise

The DESP studies and models the different components of the space mission environment (mainly charged particles and solid micro-particles) and evaluates the associated risks with on-board experiments and simulations on the ground.

Its work mainly covers:

• the physical modeling of planetary radiation belts,
• engineering models (charged particles and solid micro-particle flows),
• the satellite's interactions with its environment (contamination, effects of wakes, charging and discharging effects,...),
• the vulnerability of electronic components and materials,
• the design, calibration and operation of on-board experiments intended for the study of the environment and its effects

Specialized activities

• environment of space vehicles,
• contamination of space systems,
• survey of satellite electrification effects,
• electronic components in space environments,
• ? behavior of materials in space and planetary environments

Last Update: 17 March 2006 - © ONERA 2009 - Terms of use