Successful deployment on Artemis II under extreme radiation conditions
As the GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research reports, the research institution and the international accelerator facility FAIR have made a significant contribution to space exploration. A specially developed camera was successfully tested under realistic conditions and subsequently used in the Artemis II lunar mission.
Radiation tests at the particle accelerator
The camera is based on a modified model of the Nikon Z9 and was tested by NASA in March 2025 at the GSI and FAIR particle accelerator. Researchers exposed the system to high-energy heavy ions to simulate cosmic radiation in space.
The aim of the tests was to verify the functionality and reliability of the camera under extreme conditions. The results showed that the system operates stably even under intense radiation exposure and is suitable for use in lunar missions.
Missions in space deliver impressive images
The tested camera model has since been used in the successfully completed Artemis II mission. Among other things, it produced images of a solar eclipse from space.
The results confirm the technology's performance under real-world conditions. NASA plans to use the camera system in future Artemis missions, particularly in light of the planned return of astronauts to the moon.
Contribution from Darmstadt to international space travel
According to the scientists, the accelerator facilities in Darmstadt enable a precise simulation of cosmic radiation on Earth. GSI and FAIR thus make important contributions to the safety and further development of space technologies.
Besides technical applications, the research also contributes to a better understanding of the effects of cosmic radiation on the human body. The test experiments were conducted as part of the EU-funded RADNEXT program and took place during the so-called FAIR Phase 0.
(DARMSTADT – RED/GSI)
Featured image: NASA's Space Launch System rocket is transporting the Orion spacecraft for the Artemis II mission. Also on board is the Nikon Z9 camera model, which was tested at GSI/FAIR. Photo: GSI
