Radiation measurements are critical in space missions because, outside Earth’s atmosphere, high-energy particles can damage DNA and disrupt satellite and crewed-station electronics.
Under the RadMon-on-ISS experiment flown during the technology and science mission IGNIS, SigmaLabs’ detector monitored ionizing radiation levels and their impact on electronics. The test ran almost flawlessly, with one brief mishap during installation in microgravity when a cable floated away before being retrieved by astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski.
The device was initially meant to be tested during IGNIS and then removed from the station to burn up in Earth’s atmosphere. Instead, its strong performance led to the mission being extended at least through the first quarter of 2027.
Based on technologies previously developed at CERN, the compact, lightweight and energy-efficient detector offers immediate data readouts. It sits between simple dosimeters and large research instruments, featuring two measurement channels: one for total radiation dose and another for real-time detection of high-energy particle flux. It can also act as an early-warning system, signaling other components to switch to safe mode.
One of its key advantages is passive dose measurement. Its semiconductor sensors can accumulate charge even without power. When other dosimeters aboard the ISS recorded gaps in October due to probable power issues, the SigmaLabs detector continued passive measurements and later delivered complete data.
Participation in IGNIS opened the door to new space projects for the company.
“For space startups, gaining so-called flight heritage — proof that technology works in space — is crucial. The IGNIS mission allowed us to reach that milestone and strengthened our position as an ESA partner,” said Marcin Patecki, SigmaLabs’ chief physicist and data analyst.
“Now we are working with ESA on personal dosimeters for astronauts in the Artemis program. Crew safety beyond low Earth orbit, where Earth’s magnetic shielding is weaker, is one of the key challenges of modern spaceflight,” he added.
SigmaLabs is also contributing to the development of a detector for “strange matter,” aimed at testing hypotheses related to dark matter and stable multi-quark states containing strange quarks. The Polish team is tasked with turning a scientific concept developed by researchers from Poland, France and Italy into an engineering solution capable of long-term operation aboard the ISS.
(jh)
Source: PAP