Merlin - Space Weather Hazard Monitor

Merlin's immediate role is to provide information on the environment of a spacecraft to enable rapid and accurate diagnostics of environmentally-induced problems. At the same time, it acts as a space weather monitor for other spacecraft in a similar orbit and for global space weather modeling. In the longer term, data from Merlin provide designers with clear evidence for planning improvements and modifications to future satellites.

Merlin is a single comprehensive space weather monitor with low mass (1kg) and power (2.5 W).

Merlin makes measurements of:

Electrostatic hazards:
- Penetrating electron fluxes
- Internal charging
- Surface charging (optional)

Single event effects hazards:
- Heavy ion flux and energy deposition
- Proton flux
- Direct monitoring of effects in silicon

Total dose damage.

The MERLIN instrument with cover on (left), and off (right)

Merlin is scheduled to fly on GSTB-V2A (a precursor, test-bed spacecraft to the European Galileo spacecraft constellation) in 2005/6. This spacecraft will fly in an inclined medium Earth orbit, taking it through the heart of the outer radiation belt. Here Merlin will characterise the environment for the future constellation of geospatial positioning satellites.

QinetiQ's approach gives accurate warning and diagnostic data on both the external electron environment and the practical effects inside the satellite. Uniquely, Merlin makes continuous measurements of the full proton and ion linear energy transfer environment as experienced by shielded silicon electronic devices. Knowing the total radiation dose delivered to semiconductor components is crucial to an understanding of their performance and life span. In many orbits dose arrives sporadically according to space weather conditions. Merlin monitors the total dose in silicon at a number of different selectable shielding depths.