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The measured radiation environment within Spacelabs 1 and 2 and comparison with predictions.

To measure the radiation environment in the Spacelab (SL) module and on the pallet, a set of passive and active radiation detectors was flown as part of the Verification Flight Instrumentation (VFI). SL 1 carried 4 passive and 2 active detector packages which, with the data from the 26 passive detectors of Experiment INS006, provided a comprehensive survey of the radiation environment within the spacecraft. SL 2 carried 2 passive VFI units on the pallet. Thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs) measured the low linear energy transfer (LET) dose component; the HZE fluence and LET spectra were mapped with CR-39 track detectors; thermal and epithermal neutrons were measured with the use of fission foils; metal samples analyzed by gamma ray spectroscopy measured low levels of several activation lines. The TLDs registered from 97 to 143 mrad in the SL 1 module. Dose equivalents of 330 +/- 70 mrem in the SL 1 module and 537 +/- 37 mrem on the SL 2 pallet were measured. The active units in the SL 1 module each contained an integrating tissue-equivalent ion chamber and two differently-shielded xenon-filled proportional counters. The ion chambers accumulated 125 and 128 mrads for the mission with 17 and 12 mrads accumulated during passages through the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA). The proportional counter rates (approximately 1 cps at sea level) were approximately 100 cps in the middle of the SAA (mostly protons), approximately 35 cps at large geomagnetic latitudes (cosmic rays) and approximately 100 cps in the South Horn of the electron belts (mostly bremsstrahlung). Detailed results of the measurements and comparison with calculated values are described.

Atlantic Ocean↗

Summary of radiation dosimetry results on U.S. and Soviet manned spacecraft.

Measurements of the radiation environment aboard U.S. and Soviet manned spacecraft are reviewed and summarized. Data obtained mostly from passive and some active radiation detectors now exist for the case of low Earth-orbit missions. Major uncertainties still exist for space exposure in high altitude, high inclination, geostationary orbits, in connection with solar effects and that of shielding. Data from active detectors flown in Spacelabs 1 and 2 suggest that a variety of phenomena must be understood before the effects of long-term exposure at the space-station type of orbit and shielding can be properly assessed.

Cosmic Radiation↗

Radiation quality and risk estimation in relation to space missions.

While Q is specified as a function of linear energy transfer (LET) in practice the Q for neutrons has been selected by a judgment decision based on the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) to induce stochastic effects. There are no RBE values for tumor induction by heavy ions or protons in humans. Thus, selection of Q values has been based either on LET (or lineal energy) or RBEs from animal experiments. Estimates of Q for heavy ions in low earth orbit (LEO) range from about 5 to 14. The average Q value of all radiation in LEO has been estimated to be about 1.3. There is a lack of experimental data for RBEs for heavy ions but RBE increases as a function of LET. In the case of the Harderian gland the RBE reaches a maximum of 25-30 between about 100-200 keV/micrometer but does not appear to decrease at higher LETs. The International Commission of Radiological Protection have proposed the use of radiation weighting factors in lieu of quality factors. The weighting factors will range from 1 to 20.

Animals↗

Energy and charge localization in irradiated DNA.

The relation between the site of energy deposition and the site of its biological action is an important question in radiobiology. Even at 77 degrees K, evidence is clear that these two sites must be separated since energy deposition is random but specific products are formed. Several processes that may contribute to this separation are: 1) hole migration and stabilization through deprotonation to give neutral oxidation product radicals; 2) electron trapping and transfer to form specific radical anions, possibly followed by protonation to give neutral reduction product radicals; and 3) recombination of spatially separated charges or radicals. These microscopic processes will be reviewed critically in an analysis using electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (EPR) evidence for and against long-range transfer of energy and/or charge in frozen, hydrated DNA.

Animals↗

Solar modulation and nuclear fragmentation effects in galactic cosmic ray transport through shielding.

Crews of manned interplanetary missions may accumulate significant radiation exposures from the galactic cosmic ray (GCR) environment in space. Estimates of how these dose levels are affected by the assumed temporal and spatial variations in the composition of the GCR environment, and by the effects of the spacecraft and body self-shielding on the transported radiation fields are presented. In this work, the physical processes through which shielding alters the transported radiation fields are described. We then present estimates of the effects on model calculations of (1) nuclear fragmentation model uncertainties, (2) solar modulation, (3) variations between solar cycles, and (4) proposed changes to the quality factors which relate dose equivalent to absorbed dose.

Aluminum↗

Neutron yields from interactions of GCR-like beams in stopping targets.

In order to accurately determine the radiation risk to astronauts from GCR, the nature of the secondary radiation field created by the fragmentation of GCR in shielding and tissue must be understood. Due to the their high penetrabilities, neutrons are an important component of the secondary radiation field, especially for astronauts protected by thick shielding on lunar or Martian bases. Neutron yields from 435A MeV and 272A MeV Nb stopping in Nb and Al targets are presented, along with some preliminary analysis of neutron yields from 155A MeV C stopping in Al. Energy spectra and angular distributions are shown for neutron energies above 20 MeV. The data provides some information about the dependence of the neutron yield on projectile energy and target mass. Comparisons of the data with BUU calculations are also shown.

Aluminum↗

Light ion components of the galactic cosmic rays: nuclear interactions and transport theory.

Light nuclei are present in the primary galactic cosmic rays (GCR) and are produced in thick targets due to projectile or target fragmentation from both nucleon and heavy ion induced reactions. In the primary GCR, 4He is the most abundant nucleus after 1H. However, there are also a substantial fluxes of 2H and 3He. In this paper we describe theoretical models based on quantum multiple scattering theory for the description of light ion nuclear interactions. The energy dependence of the light ion fragmentation cross section is considered with comparisons of inclusive yields and secondary momentum distributions to experiments described. We also analyze the importance of a fast component of lights ions from proton and neutron induced target fragmentation. These theoretical models have been incorporated into the cosmic ray transport code HZETRN and will be used to analyze the role of shielding materials in modulating the production and the energy spectrum of light ions.

Cosmic Radiation↗

Potential for therapeutic gain similar to pions by daily combinations of neutrons and low-LET radiations.

Biological studies with negative pi mesons (pions) at the Los Alamos Meson Physics Facility (LAMPF) have shown a relatively constant reduction of shoulder of the survival curve for single cell cultures and relatively constant reduction in the no response region for multicellular tumor spheroids (MTS) with little change in sensitivity (or slope), in both single dose and fractionated experiments. In clinical studies, a trend toward therapeutic gain for pions has been demonstrated in patients treated at LAMPF, with marked, rapid turmor regression for relatively mild acute normal tissue injury and no untoward effects observed over 7 to 24 months. Since the pion beams used therapeutically at LAMPF are characterized by a small amount of high-linear-energy-transfer (LET) radiation (in the range 10 to 20%), it is hypothesized that pion radiation as compared to x-rays increased the differential tolerance to sublethal injury in favor of normal tissues, resulting in therapeutic gain. It is further proposed that the near simultaneous application of high-LET radiation (such as neutrons) and low-LET radiation (such as x-rays) might create a bilogical situation similar to that of pion treatment, potentially resulting in therapeutic gain, although without the added benefit of dose localization obtainable with pions.

Animals↗