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.
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.
HEARTS provides two facilities at CERN, in Switzerland, and GSI, in Germany.
HEARTS offers the space industry a guaranteed and continuative provision of high-energy ion beam time.
HEARTS plays an essential role in guaranteeing European industry autonomous access to space.
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.
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).
For two weeks in November, 10 companies and institutions were provided access to CERN’s new high-energy heavy ion irradiation facility to test electronics for use in space, with positive initial feedback from the users.
Slovenian-based company Cosylab will bring its expertise to improve the experience of future users of HEARTS facilities.
In early February, the first annual meeting of the HEARTS project laid the foundations for European strategic autonomy in high-energy heavy ion testing for space applications.
The HEARTS project is funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement No. 101082402, through the Space Work Programme of the European Commission.
