Satellite memory upsets as a function of the space environment

It is well-known that the space environment is hazardous to space flight. Satellites often suffer computer/memory upsets and sometimes total failure due to radiation (mainly high-energy protons) causing ionisation or material damage within the spacecraft electronics. A model for the satellite orbital radiation data is needed to assist in predicting Total Ionization Dose and eventual failure. Sumbandilasat was constructed in South Africa and launched in 2009, and still flies today. We have a database of computer/memory upsets (see picture). This project is to correlate the computer/memory upsets with the local space radiation environment (high-energy proton fluxes) as well as the state of the sun (solar storms, sunspot numbers).