Geometry matters
Radiation exposure at component level depends strongly on surrounding structure, shielding paths, and local material distribution.
Sector Tool
Radiation sector analysis for spacecraft shielding decisions
The Sector Tool helps spacecraft teams evaluate geometry-driven shielding, component exposure, and radiation risks using sector-based analysis workflows for TID, TNID, and SEE assessment support.
Built on subsystem-level Lunar and Venus radiation analysis experience, with development supported through an ESA RPA activity.
The Challenges
Radiation risk depends on geometry, shielding, and where components actually sit
Radiation analysis is not only about the external environment. For spacecraft design teams, the critical question is how radiation reaches sensitive components through the actual spacecraft geometry.
Shielding thickness, material distribution, component placement, and mission environment all affect TID, TNID, and SEE-related risks. When these factors are evaluated too late, radiation mitigation can become expensive, mass-heavy, or difficult to integrate.
The Sector Tool helps teams investigate these effects earlier by connecting spacecraft geometry with sector-based shielding and radiation assessment workflows.
Late mitigation is expensive
If radiation risk is discovered too late, design changes may require additional shielding mass, component relocation, or mechanical redesign.
Assumptions need to be traceable
Radiation analysis used in design reviews must be based on clear inputs, visible assumptions, and review-ready outputs.
What the tool does
From spacecraft geometry to sector-based radiation insight
The Sector Tool supports spacecraft teams in analyzing how geometry and shielding affect radiation exposure at component or subsystem level. It enables engineers to evaluate shielding sectors, inspect material distribution, and support radiation assessments such as TID, TNID, and SEE-related analysis.
Geometry-aware analysis
Import or define spacecraft geometry and evaluate how shielding varies around sensitive locations.
Radiation assessment support
Support TID, TNID, and SEE-related workflows using sector-based shielding information.
Design trade-off decisions
Compare shielding options, component placement, and geometry changes before design choices become locked.
Workflow
A practical workflow for radiation-driven design decisions
01
Import or define geometry
Start from the spacecraft or subsystem geometry relevant to the radiation analysis.
02
Assign materials and shielding properties
Define material information and shielding assumptions needed for sector-based evaluation.
03
Select components or areas of interest
Choose the sensitive components, boards, or locations where radiation exposure should be assessed.
04
Generate sector-based shielding profiles
Evaluate directional shielding distributions around the selected location.
05
Evaluate radiation effects and sensitivities
Use sector-based shielding information to support TID, TNID, and SEE-related assessment workflows.
06
Compare shielding or placement options
Investigate how design changes, shielding strategies, or component placement affect the result.
07
Export results for reviews or reports
Produce figures, tables, assumptions, and summaries that can support engineering discussions and reviews.
Capabilities
Capabilities for geometry-aware radiation analysis
Geometry and model handling
- CAD / GDML-based geometry workflows
- 3D visualization of spacecraft geometry
- Material and shielding definition
- Component or point-of-interest selection
Sector analysis
- Sector generation around sensitive locations
- Directional shielding distribution
- Shielding thickness and material path evaluation
- Geometry-driven exposure insight
Radiation assessment support
- TID-oriented analysis
- TNID-oriented analysis
- SEE assessment support
- Mission-environment-driven evaluation
- Sensitivity and trade-off analysis
Engineering outputs
- Plots and tables
- Sector shielding distributions
- Component-level summaries
- Review-ready figures
- Analysis assumptions and traceable inputs
Use cases
Use cases for spacecraft teams
Especially relevant for demanding radiation environments such as Lunar, interplanetary, and planetary mission scenarios.
Component placement studies
Understand how component location affects shielding and radiation exposure.
Shielding trade-offs
Compare shielding approaches before adding unnecessary mass or redesigning mechanical layouts.
Review-level radiation support
Prepare analysis outputs that support PDR/CDR-level engineering discussions.
Mission environment comparison
Evaluate how different mission environments affect radiation exposure and mitigation needs.
Technical credibility
Built from review-level radiation analysis experience
Our team has contributed to subsystem-level radiation analysis for Lunar and Venus mission studies, including Total Ionizing Dose, Total Non-Ionizing Dose, and Single Event Effects assessments supporting PDR- and CDR-level engineering reviews.
The Sector Tool is shaped by that experience: transparent assumptions, geometry-aware analysis, traceable outputs, and a focus on decisions that matter during spacecraft design.
Contact
Need to evaluate radiation risk in your spacecraft design?
Tell us about your mission environment, spacecraft geometry, and radiation analysis needs. We can show how the Sector Tool supports geometry-aware shielding and component-level radiation assessment workflows.
info@ephemersys.comOnline scheduling
Book a meeting with Ephemersys.
Choose an available time for a SatZone, Sector Tool, or mission analysis discussion.