MiniPIX SPACE

Precision and durability in space particle tracking and imaging

ADVACAM provides cost-reducing technology for your satellite implemented for radiation mapping on the ISS, Gateway lunar station, and NASA Orion Spaceship.

The MiniPIX SPACE is a particle camera specifically designed to operate under demanding space conditions. It visualizes each charged particle that impacts the detector’s surface. Each particle leaves a unique track or imprint, allowing us to determine its composition, spectrum, and direction, which are visualized using our data-processing software, TraX Engine.

The MiniPIX SPACE is a compact, low-power radiation camera equipped with a Timepix3 or Timepix2 chip for precise particle tracking and imaging. Engineered for durability, it boasts enhanced mechanical properties. It has passed stringent environmental testing, including a humidity test, a tri-axial vibration test (x, y, z), and a thermal ambient test, all conducted under ECSS standards.

Primed for vacuum compatibility, the ADVACAM detectors in the camera can function effectively at air pressures lower than 10^-3 Pa. However, please ensure that the device is switched off during sudden pressure drops or pumping down or venting the vacuum chamber in indoor vacuum experiments. Our MiniPIX cameras have already been successfully employed onboard the International Space Station (ISS) and several satellites, demonstrating their reliability and robustness in demanding environments.

The Timepix3 detector accurately logs the position, energy, and time of arrival and tracks the shape of each ionizing particle, like an X-ray photon, providing an all-inclusive data set. It even allows for calculations on particle type, direction of flight, LET, charge, and more from the track shape. It is equipped with a passive cooling system and can be further cooled using a Peltier cooling device or a cooling plate attached to the detector’s back. The recommended temperature for optimal performance is 22°C.