Strengthening connections between particle physics and related disciplines, CERN signed a collaboration agreement with the European Space Agency (ESA) on 11 July to address the challenges of operating equipment in harsh radiation environments. Such environments are found in both particle-physics facilities and outer space, and the agreement identifies several high-priority projects, including: high-energy electron tests; high-penetration heavy-ion tests; assessment of commercial components and modules; radiation-hard and radiation-tolerant components and modules; radiation detectors, monitors and dosimeters; and simulation tools for radiation effects. Important preliminary results have already been achieved in some areas, including high-energy electron tests of electronics for the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) mission performed at CERN’s CLEAR/VESPER facility.
