ESA Space Weather Service Network
The European Space Agency’s Next Generation Radiation Monitor (NGRM) represents a scientific instrument designed to measure energetic particles in space. Deployed aboard the European Data Relay System Satellite-C (EDRS-C) in geosynchronous orbit at 31° East, the NGRM has been collecting critical radiation environment data since 2019.
The instrument is engineered to detect and analyze both electrons and protons across multiple energy ranges. Its design includes an electron detector comprising 16 circular silicon strip detectors and a stacked detector capable of measuring particle energies with high precision. These capabilities make NGRM a crucial tool for understanding space radiation environments and potential risks to satellite systems and space missions.
Through the ESA Space Weather Service Network, NGRM provides data products that offer researchers and engineers insights into radiation conditions at geosynchronous orbit. The data includes near real-time measurements, historical archives, and specialized alert services that track electron and proton flux variations.
The NGRM’s data products are processed and cross-calibrated, utilizing scientific methods like the Genetic Correlative Unfolding Method and Bow-Tie method to ensure accuracy. Researchers can access these datasets in various formats, including JSON, CSV, and Common Data Format (CDF) files, enabling flexible analysis and integration into scientific research.
By providing continuous, high-resolution measurements of space radiation, the NGRM contributes significantly to our understanding of space environment dynamics, supporting everything from satellite design and mission planning to space weather prediction and solar event monitoring.