Neutron dose study with bubble detectors aboard the International Space Station as part of the Matroshka-R experiment

Abstract

As part of the Matroshka-R experiments, a spherical phantom and space bubble detectors (SBDs) were used on board the International Space Station to characterise the neutron radiation field. Seven experimental sessions with SBDs were carried out during expeditions ISS-13, ISS-14 and ISS-15. The detectors were positioned at various places throughout the Space Station, in order to determine dose variations with location and on/in the phantom in order to establish the relationship between the neutron dose measured externally to the body and the dose received internally. Experimental data on/in the phantom and at different locations are presented.

Bubble-Detector Measurements of Neutron Radiation in the International Space Station: Iss-34 to Iss-37

“…This result agrees well with the value (i.e. 66 %) provided by the SBDS, and with the earlier SPND data (6) collected using the same phantom during ISS-13 to ISS-19, which suggested a similar dose reduction inside the phantom.…”

“…Experiments started in 2006 as part of the international Matroshka-R experiment based in the Russian segment of the ISS. Several measurements, each approximately a week long, were performed in the various Russian modules during the ISS-13 to ISS-19 missions (6,7) . This included experiments with the Matroshka-R tissueequivalent spherical phantom, which demonstrated that the dose received inside the phantom is lower than that at the phantom surface.…”

Recommendations to mitigate against human health risks incurred due to energetic particle irradiation beyond low earth orbit/BLEO

“…More recent accounts of neutron measurements made aboard the International Space Station are contained in several studies e.g. [21,25].…”

Monte Carlo calculation of the exposure of Chinese female astronauts to earth’s trapped radiation on board the Chinese Space Station

“…Experiments and simulations have been conducted to explore the space radiation hazards that astronauts are exposed to. Experiments have been performed to measure the radiation doses received by humanlike phantoms including a phantom head (1989)(1990)), [1] a spherical phantom ), [2] the phantom torso 'Fred' (1998,2001), [3][4][5] and the MATROSHKA series of mannequins (MATROSHKA-R 2004-2005, [6][7][8] MATROSHKA-1 2004-2005, [9] MATROSHKA-2A 2005, [10] MATROSHKA-2B 2007, [10] and MATROSHKA-KIBO 2010-2011 [11] ) on board spacecraft. These human-like phantoms were well instrumented with radiation detectors in their vital organs so as to measure the biological radiation parameters, including the dose, the equivalent dose, the effective dose, etc.…”