Understanding Radiation-Hardened Electronics
Rad-hard electronics are essential for long-duration military and space missions, where exposure to intense radiation is unavoidable. Their reliability is enhanced through three key approaches:
- Rad-hard by design – Components are inherently structured to resist radiation effects using redundant circuits, error-correcting memory, and radiation-tolerant transistor layouts, minimizing the risk of system failure.
- Rad-hard by processing – Manufacturing techniques, such as using radiation-resistant materials, specialized doping processes, and insulating substrates, strengthen the components against radiation damage.
- Rad-hard by packaging – External shielding with materials like lead, tungsten or other heavy metals to protect sensitive parts from radiation. Advanced encapsulation methods further prevent exposure to high-energy particles, ensuring the functionality of the components in radiation-rich environments.
The Necessity of Radiation Hardening
Radiation exposure has damaging and irreversible effects on standard electronics, making rad-hard components essential in aerospace engineering. These specialized electronics play a crucial role in space exploration and scientific discovery, enabling missions that push the boundaries of technology and innovation.
Due to the intense radiation levels in space, radiation-hardened electronics are necessary for missions beyond Earth’s atmosphere. Devices, used for space exploration and surveillance, such as the Mars Rover and the Hubble Telescope, are examples of electronics that require radiation-hardening to resist extremely radiation exposure and maintain operational integrity.
In aerospace engineering, unprotected electronics can become inoperable due to prolonged radiation exposure. The primary radiation effects on electronic components include Total Ionizing Dose (TID), Single Event Effects (SEE), and Displacement Damage (DD)—each of which can lead to circuit failures, material degradation, and altered electrical performance.
Total Ionizing Dose (TID):
- Ionizing radiation (e.g., gamma rays and X-rays) deposits energy into electronic components, gradually altering their electrical properties.
- Over time, this accumulation leads to performance degradation and can ultimately result in device failure.
- The total accumulated dose determines a device’s operational lifespan in a radiation-rich environment.
Single Event Effects (SEE):
SEE occur when a high-energy particle (e.g., a cosmic ray) interacts with a microelectronic device, causing temporary or permanent disruptions. Examples include:
- Single Event Upsets (SEUs) – Bit flips in memory that can corrupt data.
- Single Event Burnout (SEB) – Catastrophic failure of a semiconductor device due to excessive current.
Displacement Damage (DD):
- High-energy particles knock atoms out of their positions in a semiconductor lattice, creating defects and charge traps.
- This leads to increased leakage currents and degraded electrical performance.
- Unlike SEE, DD accumulates over time, causing long-term damage to the device.
Additional Radiation Effects:
- Neutron Activation – Exposure to neutron radiation can transform elements into unstable isotopes, which may emit secondary radiation and further degrade components.
- Material Degradation – Radiation exposure can make materials brittle, swollen, or lose elasticity, leading to mechanical failures.
- Conductivity Issues – Radiation can alter a material’s ability to conduct heat and electricity, potentially causing overheating or electrical malfunctions.
The Process of Radiation Hardening
Radiation-hardening is a multi-faceted process involving specialized design, materials, and manufacturing techniques to ensure electronics remain functional and reliable in high-radiation environments. This process requires rigorous testing and quality assurance to meet the stringent demands of aerospace, military, and nuclear applications.
Here’s the simplified process:
Material Selection:
Electronic parts engineers and aerospace engineers must choose items that can absorb, mitigate, or block radiation. This includes insulating substrates, specialized doping techniques, and radiation-tolerant semiconductors.
Circuit Design (Rad-Hard by Design):
Electronics are designed with redundant circuits, error-correcting memory, and radiation-tolerant transistor layouts to minimize system failures. This built-in redundancy ensures that the device continues functioning even if one component is affected.
Memory Protection:
Software and firmware play a crucial role in radiation-hardened systems. Error-correcting codes (ECC) and data scrubbing techniques help preserve memory integrity, preventing data corruption caused by radiation exposure.
Packaging and Shielding:
External radiation shielding using materials like tungsten, lead, and specially coated polymers provides a physical barrier against radiation. Advanced encapsulation techniques further protect components from high-energy particles.
Advanced Technologies:
Advanced technologies such as self-healing electronics are being explored to enhance radiation resistance. Self-healing electronics are designed to mimic natural biological processes so that in the event of damage, chemical compounds are released to self-heal the device.
Interested in learning more? Students in the UCF Aerospace Engineering and Electronic Parts Engineering programs have the opportunity to sharpen their skills in this area. Our Aerospace Engineering graduate degree program is 30 credit hours and offers three tracks. This program is completely online and allows students to work at their own pace. We additionally offer a 12-credit-hour online Electronic Parts Engineering program with a curriculum designed by NASA to provide students with real-world applications as they learn.
Radiation Hardened vs. Radiation-Tolerant Electronics
Radiation-hardened electronics differ from radiation-tolerant electronics in their ability to withstand high-intensity radiation. Rad-hard electronics are designed to withstand high-intensity radiation for prolonged periods. On the other hand, radiation-tolerant electronics can resist radiation but are not designed to withstand the same intensity or duration of radiation as their counterparts.
Rad-hard electronics are especially useful in military missions, space exploration and in the cores of nuclear reactors where long-term resistance is necessary for success. Meanwhile, radiation-tolerant electronics are better for use in short-term missions where the radiation intensity and duration are much less.
Radiation Shielding in Space: A Key Role of Rad-Hard Electronics
Radiation shielding keeps astronauts, spacecraft and space-bound electronics safe while on long-term missions. As technology advances, radiation shielding may be the key to deep space exploration.
Applications of Radiation-Hardened Electronics
Radiation-hardened electronics are essential in highly classified, long-term space missions (high-radiation environments) where devices must last for long periods of time. This technology is also applicable in heavy-duty electronics designed for deep space missions or satellites designed to float in areas with intense radiation. Examples of these applications in aerospace engineering include:
- GPS and weather systems
- The Mars Rover
- The Hubble Telescope
- Voyager 1 and 2 space probes
- Various defense satellites
The Future: Trends and Innovations in Rad-Hard Electronics
The need for radiation-resistant technologies is increasing as the desire for deeper space exploration expands. The market is expected to grow from $1.7 billion in 2024 to $2.1 billion by 2029, due to increasing demands from the military, nuclear energy and high-altitude/aviation applications, according to a report from MarketsandMarkets Blog.
The rad-hard market is continually adapting to ongoing demands, particularly with “New Space” and increasing military demands for nuclear technology which require nuclear power plants. New Space refers to the commercialization and privatization of the space industry, contributing to higher demands for more technology-focused, cost-effective approaches to exploration. The industry works overtime to meet the demands of New Space due to its proliferative approach to making space more accessible.
Radiation-Hardened Electronics in Electronic Parts Engineering
Radiation hardening is an essential subfield of electronic parts engineering and has shaped this broader discipline through the modification of materials, design, manufacturing and testing processes. The process of creating radiation-hardened electronics uses and expands upon already existing ideas and modifies electronics to survive in high-intensity radiation fields.
Students who have a basic understanding of radiation hardening will have a leg up as they pursue degrees in electronic parts engineering. Understanding how already existing products can be modified to withstand intense radiation provides insight into the broader field and can increase opportunities for advancement.
NASA & Electronic Parts Engineering
The field of electronic parts engineering, while lucrative, faces a significant challenge—an aging workforce. UCF Online has partnered with NASA to enhance our electronic parts degree program with hopes of bringing fresh faces and new knowledge to this growing field. This program is fully online and is one of three programs nationwide using a curriculum designed by NASA. Our online degree program provides students with the skills and knowledge necessary to be prepared for careers in aerospace and other high-tech industries.
The Future is Bright with UCF’s Online Programs
With the field of radiation-hardened electronics rapidly growing, the demand is high for those interested in pursuing this career. Those who study and work in this field are on the frontlines of new and innovative technology.
UCF Online provides several fully online degree programs to help you pursue your passions and career goals at your own pace. You no longer have to walk or drive to class to receive quality education. Specifically, our electronic parts engineering program, in partnership with NASA, will leave you prepared to enter into the growing world of technology with confidence.