Innovating to ensure European access to space
Space is an extreme environment where cosmic radiation, consisting of high-energy particles, is very damaging to advanced electronics, such as those found in satellites. CERN has facilities where the effect of these particles can be replicated to test such complex electronic components.
The CHARM heavy ion facility, located at CERN, will be upgraded to meet the needs of the space community for radiation effects testing.
In 2023, CERN joined other partners in academia and industry in HEARTS (High-Energy Accelerators for Radiation Testing and Shielding), an EU-funded project, to provide access to high-energy heavy ions radiation testing facilities for electronics, shielding and radiobiology. As part of the project, two testing facilities at CERN and GSI (Germany) will be updated and be made available for space industries and academia on a routine basis. The project will be instrumental in ensuring European access to space.
Two facilities
HEARTS provides two facilities, at CERN, in Switzerland, and GSI, in Germany.
Dedicated beam time
HEARTS offers the space industry a guaranteed and continuative provision of high-energy ion beam time.
Strategic asset
HEARTS plays an essential role in guaranteeing European industry an autonomous access to space.
funding
(incl. 1.26 MEUR for CERN)
Project started 1 January 2023,
and will last for 4 years