Electronics EMI/EMC and radiation effects testing for a university-designed ISS imaging payload

The University of North Dakota (UND) is developing the agricultural camera (AgCam) payload to capture precision agriculture imagery from an Earth-observing window onboard the International Space Station (ISS). Before AgCam operations can begin, however, the AgCam system must be thoroughly tested in order to prove its safety, reliability, and compatibility with other vitally important ISS electronics which is in close proximity to the payload. Electromagnetic interference and electromagnetic compatibility (EMI/EMC) are NASA-required tests for all payloads containing electronic components. Radiation effects testing, although not required by NASA is critically important in determining the reliability of the system in a low Earth orbit environment. The process of design and verification through testing to minimize the effects of EMI/EMC and ionizing radiation is really more of an art than a science, since in many cases the best way to succeed in these areas is to use the intuition gained from experience and a handful of "rules of thumb". Facilities and expertise for conducting these tests are usually unavailable in the university environment, but with the assistance of technical professionals in NASA and industry, the AgCam system will undergo the required tests in time for launch to the ISS onboard a Space Shuttle in 2006.