Landmarks: modelling space and its impact on electronics

Developments technology and industrial policy are making it difficult to choose components with sufficient safety margins to allow for the inaccuracies known to exist in the present space environment models. To improve this situation, a number of studies are being carried out into the extremely dynamic nature of the Van Allen belts. It is becoming apparent that a 'meteorological' approach will be needed to forecast and counteract risk situations arising in space. (authors)