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High-energy heavy ion
testing for space
in Europe

Galactic cosmic rays are harmful to humans and electronics. From fostering new space applications to accompanying astronauts into deep space, it is essential to develop cutting-edge radiation-tolerant electronics and to acquire decisive knowledge of radiation shielding properties and radiobiology.

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About HEARTS

Funded by the European Union, the HEARTS project aims at increasing Europe’s autonomy on critical radiation-testing infrastructures by creating high-quality, high-energy heavy ion irradiation facilities in Europe, accessible to and tailored for space users and applications.

Discover our future solutions

  • To qualify advanced microelectronics components for space.
  • To conduct shielding and radiobiology research for deep-space missions.
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Two facilities

HEARTS provides two facilities at CERN, in Switzerland, and GSI, in Germany.

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Dedicated beam time

HEARTS offers the space industry a guaranteed and continuative provision of high-energy ion beam time.

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Strategic assets

HEARTS plays an essential role in guaranteeing European industry autonomous access to space.

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Our consortium

The project is coordinated by CERN, in partnership with GSI as the main high-energy ion accelerator infrastructures. The University of Padua is an academic partner, and Thales Alenia Space and Airbus Defence and Space are industrial partners. All have extensive experience in the field of radiation effects and a strong interest in very high-energy ion testing.

Our beam offer

Combining high LET values and large penetration depth, our beams are ideal for users wishing to qualify complex packaging structures or full electronics boards, without resorting to cost-expansive preparation (e.g. de-lidding, thinning).

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