Satellites can fail for many reasons, but space radiation is one of the most hidden and costly. Learn how radiation causes electronics malfunctions, real-world examples of failures, and what engineers can do to mitigate the risks.

Radiation shielding is one of the most important design decisions in satellite engineering. Shielding affects mission lifetime, system reliability, and launch cost all at once. Too little protection, and your electronics may degrade or fail within months. Too much protection, and you burden the spacecraft with unnecessary mass that consumes both budget and performance margins. The right balance requires engineers to look beyond materials and thicknesses and start with the fundamental design questions. By framing shielding as a problem of mission environment, duration, tradeoffs, and testing, teams can ensure they are building spacecraft that are both survivable and efficient.

Learn what space radiation is, where it comes from, and how it impacts satellite electronics. A beginner’s guide for engineers and hardware teams building for space environments.

Before selecting radiation shielding for your satellite, ask these 5 critical questions. Learn how orbit, mission duration, shielding mass, component type, and testing impact space radiation protection.

Learn the physics behind radiation shielding for electronics in space. Understand radiation types, effects on microelectronics, shielding material tradeoffs—including new composites like Melagen MLC1—and key questions to ask before protecting your hardware.