Impact of Space weather on spacecraft

This paper presents the space weather effects on spacecraft. Spacecraft are more susceptible to space weather hazards for a number of reasons. The types of missions are increasingly demanding and payloads are becoming more sophisticated. In addition commercial pressures can result in selection of more light weight spacecraft and less radiation hardened components. Non-availability of the radiation hardened components in some areas can lead to the use of technologies that are sensitive to radiation effects. Single event upsets and latch ups, surface and internal charging, drag effects are some of the space weather caused effects which affect the spacecraft functions. This paper presents the details of the space environmental effects, radiation hazards, electrostatic discharge effects and the mitigation techniques to reduce these effects.