Radiation & Survivability Engineering Services
Northrop Grumman performs analysis & test to mitigate effects from natural and nuclear weapon radiation environments.
Northrop Grumman’s Radiation & Survivability team offers tailored, in-house testing and analysis services specifically designed to meet the unique needs of clients within the aerospace and defense industries.
Located in Redondo Beach, California, our Radiation & Survivability Center of Excellence conducts research on the effects of natural and nuclear weapon environments on space systems, including:
- Satellite and missile programs
- Airborne platforms
- A broad classified portfolio
Capabilities
RADIATION TEST OPERATIONS
Our dedicated team conducts electronic tests in ionizing/particle radiation environments to assess degradation caused by the impacts of natural space conditions or nuclear weapons in our state-of-the-art Radiation Test Operations (RTO) Laboratory. RTO, which has served customers with its own irradiators since 1968, provides turnkey service solutions and offers cradle-to-grave test development, execution, and logistics.
NATURAL SPACE RADIATION & SURVIVABILITY TEST AND ANALYSIS
- Total Ionizing Dose, including Enhanced Low Dose Rate Sensitivity (ELDRS), and Displacement Damage
- Single Event Effect Criticality Analyses and Rate Calculations: Upsets, Latchup, Burnout, Transients, Functional Interrupts, Gate Ruptures
- Material Survivability Effects: Micrometeoroids & Orbital Debris, Atomic Oxygen, UV Degradation, etc.
NUCLEAR HARDNESS & SURVIVABILITY TEST AND ANALYSIS
Exo-and Endo- atmospheric threats:
- Transient Radiation Effects in Electronics (TREE) from Prompt Dose Photocurrents, High Dose Rate Total Ionizing Dose (HDR TID), and Neutron Displacement Damage
- Neutron Single Event Effects
- Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) effects, such as High-Altitude (HEMP), Cable System Generated EMP (SGEMP), ‘Box’ Internal EMP (IEMP)
RADIATION SIMULATION TOOL EXPERTISE
- Space and Hostile Radiation & Survivability Environment Calculations: AE9/AP9, OMERE, etc.
- Space Radiation Transport Modeling and Shielding Calculations: FASTRAD, MCNP, NOVICE, etc.
- Hostile Effect Modeling: MCNP, THTk, SIRE, Redbook, etc.
Radiation Test Operations (RTO) Laboratory
Discover our comprehensive turnkey test solution, offering diverse capabilities to develop and execute testing tailored to your requirements. Between crafting a test plan to delivering a detailed test report, we cover it all.
- In-house test board design and fabrication
- Test Bed Development
- Automated Test Equipment
- In-House Irradiators
- Tests in Other Radiation Environments
In-House Test Board Design and Fabrication
Rapid Prototyping and assembly to meet technical expectations and test schedules.
LPKF Milling Machines
Dedicated Board Assembly Services
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In-House Board Design and Fabrication |
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Description |
Specification |
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Altium PCB Design and LPKF S63/S64 Milling Machines |
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Test Bed Development
Northrop Grumman has access to test equipment that can accommodate any test plan requirements, whether for on-site or off-site testing needs.
Complex test bed development capable of parallel sample measurements.
Measurements under consistent, controlled hot or cold temperatures.
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Laboratory Capacity and Capability |
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Description |
Specification |
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ESD Laboratories |
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Thermostream |
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Automated Test Equipment (ATE)
Standard, repeatable, stable, and accurate electrical characterization capabilities for pre/post-irradiation degradation measurement
Unites UNIMET2020 ATE
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UNIMET 2020 Automated Test Equipment Platform |
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Description |
Specification |
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Device Types and Package Types |
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NI Semiconductor Test System
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NI Semiconductor Test System |
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Description |
Specification |
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Device Types and Package Types |
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Legacy Analog Devices LTS2020 ATE Platform
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Legacy Analog Devices LTS2020 ATE Platform |
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Description |
Specification |
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Device Types and Package Types |
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Legacy HP82000 ATE Platform
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Legacy HP82000 ATE Platform |
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Description |
Specification |
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Device Types and Package Types |
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Irradiators
Northrop Grumman offers various irradiators on-site which are accessible for turnkey test campaigns to minimize delays in test execution. Our Co-60 irradiators are available to elicit total dose effects from high dose rates and Enhanced Low-Dose Rate Sensitivity (ELDRS) in electronics, and can service material samples as well. Our Flash X-Ray machine delivers prompt dose simulations essential for hostile survivability investigations. Additionally, you are invited to rent time on these irradiator capabilities, where you may ship your equipment to us and visit our facility to set up your tests for irradiation, while our dedicated test engineering personnel safely operate the irradiators for you.
Irradiators:
Total Dose
High Dose Rate (50-300 Rad(Si)/s)
- (2) Gammacell 220 Chamber Irradiators
Low Dose Rate (≤10 mRad(Si)/s)
- (1) Gammacell 220 Chamber Irradiator
- (1) J.L. Shepherd 142 Chamber Irradiator
- (2) NILS Beacon Room Irradiators
- (1) Hopewell DS20 Room Irradiator (Expected 2025)
Dose Rate (A.K.A Prompt Dose)
Upset (1E7-1E11+ Rad(Si)/s)
- (1) Febetron 705 Flash X-Ray Irradiator (Expected Q4 2024)
Gammacell 220 High Dose Rate Irradiator
Gammacell 220 Exposure Cavity
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Gammacell220 High Dose Rate Irradiator |
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Description |
Specification |
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Chamber Volume |
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Dose Rates (as of 1/30/2024) |
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J.L. Shepherd 142 Low Dose Rate Irradiator
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J.L. Shepherd 142 Low Dose Rate Irradiator |
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Description |
Specification |
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Chamber Height |
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Chamber arc length at 10mRad(Si)/s (as of 1/30/2024) |
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NILS Beacon Low Dose Rate Room Irradiators
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NILS Beacon Low Dose Rate Room Irradiators |
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Description |
Specification |
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Chamber Height |
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Chamber arc length at 10mRad(Si)/s (as of 1/30/2024) |
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Hopewell DS20 Low Dose Rate Room Irradiator
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Hopewell DS20 Low Dose Rate Room Irradiator (Avail. 2025, Tentative) |
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Description |
Specification |
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Chamber Capacity |
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Febetron 705 Flash X-Ray Machine
Febetron 705 Flash X-Ray Machine Faceplate
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Febetron 705 Flash X-Ray Machine (Available Q4 2024, Tentative) |
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Description |
Specification |
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Dose Rates |
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Shot Rate |
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Tests in Other Radiation Environments
Our personnel continue to perform test development and execution activities in a variety of radiation environments. When the need arises, count on us to make the appropriate arrangements to meet your requirements and ensure the attainment of your testing objectives.
Additional radiation effects testing we perform includes:
Neutrons
- Displacement Damage (1MeV, 2.5MeV, 14MeV)
Gamma Dose Rate (A.K.A Prompt Dose)
- Upset + Survival (1E7-1E12+ Rad(Si)/s)
Single Event Effects
- Heavy Ions
- Protons
- Neutrons (Fission or Fusion)
- Laser (Single or Dual Photon Absorption)
Becoming a Customer
Aerospace Services makes it easy to do business with the individual service units, using efficient quoting, contracting, and invoicing processes. Aerospace Services has provided high quality service to many satisfied customers and is committed to delivering a positive customer experience. To get started, contact a specialist to request information on testing and engineering services or request a quotation if you already know what you need. Also see the FAQs for more information.
Contact Us:
E-mail: Radiation Testing
Phone: 310-813-0000