SPACE TECHNOLOGY
INTELLIGENT TECHNOLOGY
Auburn installs superconducting proton accelerator for space electronics testing
Auburn University’ s Applied Research Institute( AUARI) has installed its new superconducting 200 MeV proton accelerator, an important step in opening the nation’ s first universityled proton testing facility dedicated to qualifying space electronics.
The RAD-FX-200 superconducting synchrocyclotron, manufactured and installed by Mevion Medical Systems, is the centerpiece of AUARI’ s Radiation Hardening Facility, created to address the shortage of space-qualifying testing facilities needed by the Department of War and the aerospace and defense industry.
The facility will enable government and industry partners to evaluate whether microelectronics can withstand the harsh radiation environment of space before they are deployed on critical missions.
“ To provide for a highly reliable defense of our nation and our armed forces, we need to test every microelectronic component for its performance in space,” said Maj. Gen. Jason Cothern, Deputy Director of the Missile Defense Agency.“ Going forward, we will have priority access to Auburn’ s proton cyclotron facility to ensure timely radiation testing of the microelectronics our cutting-edge systems depend on.”
“ The new Radiation Hardening Facility meets two crucial needs in national security: closing the gap on lack of spacequalifying testing facilities and training the next generation of engineers and scientists to be ready to work in the industry on day one,” said Steve Taylor, Senior Vice President of Research and Economic Development at Auburn University.“ Auburn takes its mission to serve the people of Alabama very seriously and is proud to answer the call to strengthen national security and be a valuable partner for our Huntsville defense ecosystem.”
“ This installation represents a new frontier for proton technology,” said Curt Kienast, Chief Operating Officer, Mevion Medical Systems.“ Since 2013, our superconducting synchrocyclotrons, designed and built in Littleton, Massachusetts, have treated cancer patients by precisely targeting tumors while sparing healthy tissue. Applying that same proven, compact technology to qualify space electronics is a powerful example of how American medical innovation can serve an entirely new mission. We are proud to help Auburn pioneer this application.”
The Radiation Hardening Facility is housed within AUARI’ s new 50,000-square-foot laboratory in Huntsville’ s Cummings Research Park, just minutes from Redstone Arsenal and many of the nation’ s leading defense and space organizations, including the Missile Defense Agency, NASA’ s Marshall Space Flight Center and US Space Command.
The facility’ s primary mission is to support the Missile Defense Agency( MDA), with additional availability for other US Government agencies, services and commercial partners. MDA awarded Auburn a prime contract in November 2024 to establish the facility.
The facility will open for testing in January 2027 and is expected to reach full operating capacity in 2029. •
Satellites, missile defense interceptors, spacecraft and launch vehicles all depend on microelectronics that must keep operating in that environment, and a single radiation-induced fault can disable a system that cannot be repaired once in orbit. The Mevion RAD-FX-200 accelerates protons to 200 MeV, which effectively simulates the proton radiation environment of near-Earth orbit and of solar particle events so that engineers can measure how advanced microelectronics respond before flight.
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