SELDOM
SELDOM – Single Event Latchup Detection On Moon
The SELDOM project is an in-orbit experiment designed to test a radiation protection circuit for electronic components in space.
Space radiation can cause single event latch-ups (SEL) in microchips, leading to thermal destruction. To prevent this, SELDOM will send a latch-up protection circuit into space as part of NeuroSpace’s CubeSat mission “TACHELES” formerly called “On Moon”, launched aboard NASA’s Artemis 2.
This protection circuit was developed based on laser-induced latch-up experiments conducted by Dr. Hannes Zöllner. His research demonstrated that a laser can simulate space radiation effects, reducing the need for expensive radiation chamber tests. SELDOM will verify the accuracy of these laser-based results by measuring real SEL events in orbit.
Experimental Setup
The SELDOM experiment consists of a modular circuit designed to detect and analyze SEL in space. The setup includes two STM32 microcontrollers and eight ATTiny20 microcontrollers, which act as devices under test (DUTs). Each DUT is monitored for SEL events.
A SEL protection circuit detects excessive current and cuts power to prevent thermal destruction. The STM32 microcontrollers log SEL events and transmit data to the satellite’s main computer.
Additionally, the system tracks single event upsets (SEUs), which are radiation-induced memory errors.
Mission Overview
The SELDOM experiment is a secondary payload aboard NASA’s Artemis II mission, the first crewed flight of the Orion spacecraft under the Artemis program. Scheduled for launch no earlier than April 2026, Artemis II will conduct a lunar flyby, testing critical systems for future lunar missions.
After the Orion Upper Stage Separation Burn, the TACHELES cubesat will be released into space. A small booster will then raise its trajectory, placing it in an orbit. The mission is expected to operate for two years.