Space Radiation OperationsSpace Radiation OperationsStatus, Methods and NeedsStatus, Methods and Needs

Neal Zapp, NASA/JSC SRAGNeal Zapp, NASA/JSC SRAG

Space RadiationSpace RadiationA Fundamental Problem for NASA’sA Fundamental Problem for NASA’s MannedManned SpaceflightSpaceflight ObjectivesObjectives

• Legal, moral and practical considerations require NASA limitpostflight risks incurred by humans living and working in space to “acceptable” levels

• Radiation protection is essential to enable humans to live and work safely in space

• Astronaut radiation protection is addressed as part of the NASA Strategic Plan

Radiation ExposureRadiation Exposure

Principal Health RisksPrincipal Health Risks

Acute affects – of PRIMARAcute affects – of PRIMAR Affects potentially range from mild and recoverable to Affects potentially range from mild and recoverable to

deathdeath Much higher risk for exploration than for STS/ISS/LEOMuch higher risk for exploration than for STS/ISS/LEO

Long-term risksLong-term risks Cancer risk increaseCancer risk increase CataractsCataracts

Increase in cancer risk is principal concern for Increase in cancer risk is principal concern for astronaut exposure to space radiation for ISSastronaut exposure to space radiation for ISS

For exploration acute effects/syndromes For exploration acute effects/syndromes become much more an operational possibilitybecome much more an operational possibility

NASA Mission Support Team:NASA Mission Support Team:Space Radiation Analysis GroupSpace Radiation Analysis Group

Provide preflight crew exposure projectionsProvide preflight crew exposure projections

Provide real-time astronaut radiation protection supportProvide real-time astronaut radiation protection support

Provide radiation monitoring to meet medical and legal Provide radiation monitoring to meet medical and legal requirementsrequirements

Small group of health physicists, physicists, and Small group of health physicists, physicists, and programmersprogrammers 4 civil servants4 civil servants 7-8 contractors7-8 contractors

SRAG Real-TimeSRAG Real-Time Flight SupportFlight Support

Man console in Mission Control Center-Man console in Mission Control Center-Houston (MCC-H) 4 hr/day during nominal Houston (MCC-H) 4 hr/day during nominal conditionsconditions

Man console in MCC-HMan console in MCC-Hcontinuously during significant space weather activity and all EVA's

Space EnvironmentSpace EnvironmentSupport TeamsSupport Teams

NOAA Space Environment Center/Space Weather NOAA Space Environment Center/Space Weather Operations (NOAA SWO)Operations (NOAA SWO) Principle organization for providing space weather support to Principle organization for providing space weather support to

civilian customerscivilian customers Space weather equivalent to National Weather ServiceSpace weather equivalent to National Weather Service

Our “Eyes”Our “Eyes”

EnvironmentEnvironment

EnvironmentEnvironmentNovember 00 SPE SMSAFE Shield

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

0:00 4:00 8:00 12:00 16:00 20:00 0:00 4:00 8:00 12:00 16:00 20:00

time GMT 8/9 Nov00

mra

ds

/min

1

10

100

1000

pa

rtic

le f

lux

un

its

Dose rate

> 100 MeV protons

Operational Space WeatherOperational Space Weather Information FlowInformation Flow

Defenses Defenses Protection MethodProtection Method Current MaturityCurrent Maturity

Orbital ParametersOrbital Parameters

Mission DurationMission Duration

ShieldingShielding ½½

MonitoringMonitoring

MeasuringMeasuring

Predicting/ForecastingPredicting/Forecasting

Phase of Solar CyclePhase of Solar Cycle

KnowledgeKnowledge

Space weather phenomenologySpace weather phenomenology Solar activity—terrestrial response couplingSolar activity—terrestrial response coupling Radiation environment inside geomagnetosphereRadiation environment inside geomagnetosphere Radiation exposure monitoringRadiation exposure monitoring Nuclear interactionsNuclear interactions Human response to radiation exposureHuman response to radiation exposure ½½ Human exposure risk assessmentHuman exposure risk assessment ½½

MeasurementsMeasurements Archival Archival

Environment characterization Environment characterization Crew medical record inputCrew medical record input Crew and area monitors – TLD, OSL, Crew and area monitors – TLD, OSL,

and CR-39and CR-39 TLD < 10keV/micron < CR-39TLD < 10keV/micron < CR-39

Operational or real-timeOperational or real-time Tissue Equivalent Proportional Counter Tissue Equivalent Proportional Counter Charged particle spectroscopyCharged particle spectroscopy

Intravehicular (IV-CPDS)Intravehicular (IV-CPDS)Extravehicular (EV-CPDS, multi-axis)Extravehicular (EV-CPDS, multi-axis)

IP monitoringIP monitoring

NASA Passive and Active RadiationNASA Passive and Active Radiation Measurements in ISS OrbitMeasurements in ISS Orbit

Results--Individual RAM Exposure Results--Individual RAM Exposure Rates Relative to Vehicle AverageRates Relative to Vehicle Average

Lab Window

Airlock

SM SleepStations

TeSSAft End of SM,Near Treadmill

Near CWCsin Node

Design and Vehicle EvaluationDesign and Vehicle Evaluation

Vehicle Shielding AdditionsVehicle Shielding AdditionsISS: US LABISS: US LAB

ExplorationExploration

Requirements GenerationRequirements Generation Crew exposure limitsCrew exposure limits Vehicle design limits (human exposure) – SPE drivenVehicle design limits (human exposure) – SPE driven Measurements – mission phase / typeMeasurements – mission phase / type Mass, time, complexity, budgetary constraints, etc.Mass, time, complexity, budgetary constraints, etc.

August 22nd, 2006August 22nd, 2006

Bob Rutledge, NASA JSCBob Rutledge, NASA JSC

Design of OrionDesign of Orion

“HOT”“COOL”

Final ThoughtsFinal Thoughts Must assume that the question of mission and/or crew Must assume that the question of mission and/or crew

safety impact of space weather operations is a “when”, not safety impact of space weather operations is a “when”, not an “if”.an “if”.

Highest risk mission element is surface EVAHighest risk mission element is surface EVA

Operations depends on monitoring and forecastingOperations depends on monitoring and forecasting

Measuring and understanding the space weather Measuring and understanding the space weather environment (dynamics) is a direct enabler of space environment (dynamics) is a direct enabler of space exploration.exploration.

Today’s climate dictates a blurring of the lines between Today’s climate dictates a blurring of the lines between “research” and “operations” as applied to space weather.“research” and “operations” as applied to space weather.