Electronics Spot Shielding
Tungsten + HDPE Local Shields for Sensitive Electronics
Electronics spot shielding is a passive enclosure combining 5-millimeter tungsten alloy plates and a 30-millimeter high-density polyethylene liner, fitted directly around sensitive subsystems including command, data handling, and battery management units. On the lunar surface, the absence of a planetary magnetosphere leaves electronic components directly exposed to unattenuated cosmic radiation and secondary neutrons. To avoid the mass penalty of hardening entire structures, this 300-kilogram local shielding assembly exploits dense tungsten (19.3 g/cm³) to block gammas and electrons while the polymer layer moderates neutrons. The resulting configuration reduces total ionizing dose by a factor of 5 and lowers single-event upset rates by two to five times over a 100-year operational lifetime.
Tungsten + HDPE composite local shielding around sensitive electronics (CDH, BMS, crypto) reducing TID and SEE rates.
Purpose
Tungsten + HDPE composite local shielding around sensitive electronics (CDH, BMS, crypto) reducing TID and SEE rates.
Context
Child of L2-RAD-SPOT within the Lunar Ark system
Principles
- ▸Tungsten high-Z material for gamma/electron stopping
- ▸HDPE for neutron moderation
- ▸Spot shielding more mass-efficient than total habitat shielding
- ▸Designed per ECSS-E-ST-10-12C radiation envelope
- ▸Removable for L1-MNT module access
Typical implementations
- ▸Spacecraft spot-shielding heritage (Galileo, JUNO)
- ▸ESA radiation hardness assurance methodology
- ▸Industrial radiation protection (medical)
Lunar considerations
- ▸Tungsten dense (19.3 g/cm^3) but high effectiveness per mm
- ▸Reduces SEU rate on rad-hard parts by 2-5x
- ▸Allows wider commercial component selection inside shield
Specifications
Functional
| primary function | Tungsten + HDPE composite local shielding around sensitive electronics (CDH, BMS, crypto) reducing TID and SEE rates. |
| tungsten thickness mm | 5 |
| hdpe thickness mm | 30 |
| tid reduction factor | 5 |
Physical
| mass kg | 300 |
| materials | Tungsten alloy plates, HDPE liner, Stainless attachment |
| vacuum compatibility | True |
Operational
| power consumption w | 0 |
| thermal range c | -40, 70 |
| lifetime years | 100 |
| mtbf hours | 1000000 |
Interfaces
Provides
- Reduced TID/SEE for electronics
- Shielded HSM enclosure
Requires
- Mounting interface
Cite this entry
Lunar Ark Codex. "Electronics Spot Shielding" (L3-RAD-SPOT-ELEC). Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://lunarark.com/entry/L3-RAD-SPOT-ELEC
Licensed CC-BY-SA 4.0. You may reuse and adapt this entry with attribution, under the same licence.