The Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS), operating on the external truss of the International Space Station (ISS) since 2011, has recorded over 240 billion cosmic ray events, significantly advancing high-energy astrophysics and the search for dark matter. To enhance its capabilities, AMS is being upgraded with a new large (8m2 of sensors) silicon tracker layer (Layer-0), which will increase particle detection acceptance by 300%, enabling deeper investigation of the cosmic ray signature.
Following a global qualification campaign, all flight components, including sensors, electronics, and mechanical sub-systems, have been built and are now being assembled at CERN, where final detector mapping and test beam calibration will take place. Once fully verified to withstand launch loads and the space environment, the Layer-0 will be shipped to Kennedy Space Center for launch. Scheduled for installation in 2026, the module, designed to fit inside a SpaceX Dragon, will be mounted on top of AMS using the ISS robotic arm, with final installation completed by astronauts during complex spacewalks. EVA (Extra Vehicular Activities) training is already well underway at NASA’s Johnson Space Center and the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory to prepare for this exciting new challenge.
Coffee will be served at 10:30