The Prague-based company, known for its miniaturized radiation-imaging chips supplied to ESA and NASA, is finalizing a compact detector that will help safeguard astronauts beyond Earth’s protective magnetosphere.

“Our instrument will continuously measure the radiation doses to which astronauts are exposed,” explains Tomáš Komárek of ADVACAM. “It will also generate data for scientific studies, shielding optimization, and mission safety. The detector can identify the type, energy, direction, and time of each incoming particle, providing real-time insights into the radiation environment.”

Komárek recently oversaw environmental testing of the completed device at the VÚTS laboratories in Liberec. “Vibration tests confirmed that the detector can survive the intense mechanical stresses of launch,” he notes. “Thermal tests, from −25 °C to +85 °C, verified full functionality across extreme temperature ranges.”

The IDA consortium includes ADVACAM, the HUN REN Centre for Energy Research and REMRED Ltd from Hungary, DLR – German Aerospace Center, Airbus, and Japan’s JAXA. Together, they are contributing to one of the first comprehensive radiation-monitoring systems designed for long-duration missions in deep space. Pending final approval of the Gateway program, the Czech-developed detector may soon become a crucial safeguard for astronauts operating near the Moon.