The Heavy Ionising Radiation Observation Laboratory (HIRO-LAB) is a modular spectrophotometer device designed to analyse the degradation and breakdown effects of heavy ionising radiation on pharmaceutical compounds in a space orbit environment outside of the earth’s atmosphere and magnetosphere. Utilising modified and miniaturised spectrophotometer components in a small 1U< space, the HIRO-LAB allows for basic spectroscopic data to be analysed from a pure pharmaceutical sample directly exposed to the ionising radiation in orbit.

Abstract

Abstract A Polychromatic UV-V spectrophotometer, also known as a Diode Array Spectrophotometer, utilising a polychromatic light source and a diode array detector to simultaneously measure the absorbance of a sample across a wide range of wavelengths, enabling rapid and comprehensive spectral analysis. The device measures the effect of Heavy Ionising Radiation (HIR) on materials in the space environment in relation to low / micro gravity condition. Abstract Page 1 of 2 DRAWINGS Figure 1 Figure 2 DRAWINGS collimator Top view non sheilded data aquisition space for diffection grating electronics electronics on 2.5cm light liquid sample diode Source amelength CCDo CMOSselector Figure 1 Front Vicw 2.5cm radiation sheilded walls Figure 2 Page 1 of 2 20 25 20 26 10 14 A pr 2 02 5 2 0 2 5 2 0 2 6 1 0 1 4 2 0 2 5 A p r 2 . 5 c m C C D o r

Claims

1. The inclusive components of the HIRO-LAB design and the name ‘HIRO-LAB’.

2. The manufacturing process of HIRO-LAB in Claim 1, including the composition of Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) products and bespoke components required to finalise the payload.

3. The HIRO-LAB of Claim 1, wherein Polychromatic Photo-Spectrometer components are used to quantify radiation damage to the active ingredient in space.

4. The HIRO-LAB of Claim 1, wherein the design of the instrument measures 10 cm x 5 cm x 5 cm and miniaturises a UV-Vis Spectrophotometer that comprises a dual light source, collimator, sample, wavelength selector, diode, and an electronics compartment.

5. The HIRO-LAB of Claim 5, wherein a dual light source (both a deuterium lamp and a xenon lamp) is used to obtain the full spectrum of wavelengths passing through the sample.

6. The HIRO-LAB of Claim 5, wherein a collimator is used to change the divergent light into parallel waves directed into the sample.

7. The HIRO-LAB of Claim 4, wherein an unshielded section for the sample is exposed to radiation.

8. The HIRO-LAB of Claim 4, wherein the wavelength selector is a modular section that allows for the swapping of a diffraction grating, a prism, or a filter to isolate the necessary wavelengths for testing.

9. The HIRO-LAB of Claim 4, wherein a diode is used to capture and process spectral data in a swappable component, allowing for the use of Charge-Coupled Devices (CCDs) and Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) sensors, depending on the sample and data requirements.

10. The HIRO-LAB of Claim 4, wherein the electronics compartment allows for the input of any required chips or electronics for in situ data analysis

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