Fly a radiation dosimeter payload to measure total ionizing dose and single-event effects along the orbital path. Map radiation intensity versus altitude, latitude, and proximity to the South Atlantic Anomaly.
Fly a radiation dosimeter payload to measure total ionizing dose and single-event effects along the orbital path. Map radiation intensity versus altitude, latitude, and proximity to the South Atlantic Anomaly.
This is a beginner-level project with an estimated timeline of 12-16 months using a 0.5U form factor.
Low Earth Orbit is not a benign environment. Satellites pass through regions of intense radiation trapped particles in the Van Allen belts, solar energetic particles during solar storms, and the South Atlantic Anomaly where the inner radiation belt dips closest to Earth's surface. Understanding this radiation environment is critical for spacecraft designers, semiconductor manufacturers, and mission planners. A radiation mapping payload measures the types, energies, and intensities of charged particles striking the spacecraft as it orbits, building a spatial map of radiation exposure over weeks and months of operation. This is one of the most thoroughly proven student CubeSat experiments in existence, with dozens of successful university missions dating back over a decade. The sensors are small, low-power, and interface cleanly with standard microcontrollers. The resulting dataset has genuine scientific value contributing to radiation belt models, validating space weather forecasts, and benchmarking how well commercial-grade electronics survive in orbit. For teams at universities with radiation effects research programs, this payload creates a direct bridge between classroom physics and real orbital data.
Practical build: Teviso BG51 PIN diode sensor (~$30-50, TTL pulse output) + PNI RM3100 tri-axis magnetometer (~$50, I2C, 2.7 nT resolution, radiation-tolerant >150 krad) + VEML6075 UV sensor (~$5, I2C) on a single custom PCB with SAMD21 payload controller. Add a RADFET dosimeter for cumulative total ionizing dose. All sensors use I2C or simple digital pulse counting. Students design PCB in KiCad, write firmware in CircuitPython, calibrate with check sources (potassium-40 salt substitute, americium-241 from smoke detectors). If budget allows, SkyFox Labs piDOSE-DCD (~4,890) provides a flight-qualified solid-state dosimeter with UART interface and 30 mW power draw.
This is the most thoroughly proven student CubeSat experiment in existence. Montana State HRBE (2011) operated 28 months with a single Geiger-Müller tube in 1U. Colorado CSSWE (2012) generated 20 peer-reviewed papers from a radiation payload. Vanderbilt ISDE flew radiation effects test beds on RadFxSat/AO-91 (2017) and RadFxSat-2/Fox-1E (2021) direct mentorship pipeline exists. piDOSE-DCD commercial version flew on Lucky-7 and measured LEO radiation spectra successfully. University of Montpellier MTCube demonstrated COTS memory radiation testing. The ISDE faculty connection makes this the lowest-risk option. Cost: $200-$1,500 (DIY) or ~$5,000 (with piDOSE). Tier 1 recommendation lowest risk, highest heritage.
This project spans 3 disciplines, making it suitable for interdisciplinary student teams.
Ready to take on this project? Here's a general roadmap that applies to most CubeSat missions:
Connect with a Blackwing chapter for mentorship, platform access, and a path to orbit.