Combining single-event latchup and reliability requirements for space vehicles

Abstract

In this paper, the authors suggest the consideration of destructive single-event latchup (SEL) as an additional failure mode for components in space systems. With this orientation, the failure rate for this process can be combined with the standard failure analysis to obtain a composite failure rate prediction. This paper shows how SEL can be included in the standard reliability formalism and how this connection can be used to derive realistic specifications for the allowable SEL rate in a given satellite system.