Silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) are increasingly favored for detecting near-UV, visible, and infrared light in space due to their high sensitivity to single photons and compact design. While SiPMs offer several advantages over traditional photomultiplier tubes, their susceptibility to radiation and noise remains an issue. Our study intended to determine the optimal SiPM design for the Terzina Cherenkov satellite in sun-synchronous low Earth orbit (LEO) at an altitude of 550 km. To this end, we characterised several NUV-HD-MT SiPM variants, developed by Fondazione Bruno Kessler, and studied their responses to irradiation by exposing them to a 50 MeV proton beam and to electrons from the $\beta$-emitting source strontium-90. Experimental results were cross-validated with SPENVIS and Geant4 simulations. Based on our findings, we also propose an annealing strategy to mitigate radiation damage and ensure reliable performance in space-based applications.