Applied Technical Services

Applied Technical Services (ATS) is a U.S.-based testing and engineering services laboratory with space radiation testing capabilities serving the defense, aerospace, and commercial space industries, providing the specialized radiation characterization and qualification testing required for electronics intended to operate in space radiation environments. The company's radiation testing services cover the three major space radiation effects: Total Ionizing Dose (TID) testing using Co-60 gamma irradiators to assess accumulated radiation damage from years of orbital exposure; Single Event Effects (SEE) testing using proton and heavy ion beams to characterize bit flips, latch-up, and burnout susceptibility from cosmic rays and solar energetic particle events; and dose rate testing simulating the prompt radiation environments relevant to nuclear weapon effects for military space systems. ATS conducts testing following DLA Land and Maritime (DSCC) standards required for JANTX and QML-qualified components, making their test reports acceptable for use in military satellite programs requiring formal DLA qualification. The laboratory operates proton accelerators for SEE testing (protons are used as a surrogate for the high-energy heavy ion events that drive SEL and SET in real space environments) and is equipped for heavy ion SEE testing through partnerships with nuclear accelerator facilities. For commercial space programs using COTS (commercial-off-the-shelf) electronics, ATS provides radiation characterization testing that enables designers to select components based on measured TID tolerance and SEE cross-section data rather than relying solely on manufacturer specifications. ATS competes with HIREX Engineering, Sandia National Laboratories (on CRADA basis), and university-based radiation test facilities at UCSC and TAMU in providing commercial radiation test services.