Low earth orbit radiation dose distribution in a phantom head

• Published in: International journal of radiation applications and instrumentation. Part D, Nuclear tracks and radiation measurements Vol. 20; no. 1; pp. 49 - 54
• Main Authors: Konradi, A., Atwell, W., Badhwar, G.D., Cash, B.L., Hardy, K.A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 1992
• ISSN: 1359-0189; 1878-1691
• DOI: 10.1016/1359-0189(92)90084-9

In order to compare analytical methods with data obtained during exposure to space radiation, a phantom head instrumented with a large number of radiation detectors was flown on the Space Shuttle on three occasions: 8 August 1989 (STS-28), 28 February 1990 (STS-36), and 24 April 1990 (STS-31). The objective of this experiment was to obtain a measurement of the inhomogeneity in the dose distribution within a phantom head volume. The orbits of these missions were complimentary—STS-28 and STS-36 had high inclination and low altitude, while STS-31 had a low inclination and high altitude. In the cases of STS-28 and STS-36, the main contribution to the radiation dose comes from galactic cosmic rays (GCR) with a minor to negligible part supplied by the inner belt through the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA), and for STS-28 an even smaller one from a proton enhancement during a solar flare-associated proton event. For STS-31, the inner belt protons dominate and the GCR contribution is almost negligible. The internal dose distribution is consistent with the mass distribution of the orbiter and the self-shielding and physical location of the phantom head.