Estimation of cosmic-ray doses is of great importance not only in aircrew and astronaut dosimetry but also in evaluation of background radiation exposure to public. We therefore calculated the cosmic-ray doses on Earth, Moon and Mars as well as inside spacecraft, using Particle and Heavy Ion Transport code System PHITS. The same cosmic-ray models and dose conversion coefficients were employed in the calculation to properly compare between the simulation results for different environments. It is quantitatively confirmed that the thickness of physical shielding including the atmosphere and soil of the planets is the most important parameter to determine the cosmic-ray doses and their dominant contributors. The comparison also suggests that higher solar activity significantly reduces the astronaut doses particularly for the interplanetary missions. The information obtained from this study is useful in the designs of the future space missions as well as accelerator-based experiments dedicated to cosmic-ray research.

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We report three different types of relativistic electron precipitation (REP) events observed at International Space Station (ISS), associated with electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves or whistler mode waves as observed by the Arase satellite at conjugate locations near the magnetic equator. Three different detectors installed on the ISS were complementarily used; CALET/CHD as the detector of precipitating MeV electrons, MAXI/RBM as the detector of sub-MeV electrons from horizontal and vertical directions, and SEDA-AP/SDOM to quantitatively measure the energy spectrum. The REP event on 21 August 2017 shows a quasiperiodic intensity variation at~1 Hz which corresponds to variations of the EMIC waves at the Arase altitudes. The REP event on 24 April 2017 shows rapid and irregular intensity variation which corresponds to the amplitude variation of chorus waves, while the REP events on 26 October 2017 shows a smooth quasiperiodic time variation at~0.2 Hz which corresponds to the amplitude variation of "electrostatic" whistler mode waves. This study clearly demonstrates that the time variation of REP events at ISS are caused by various types of plasma waves near the magnetic equator. Plain Language Summary Several different kinds of plasma waves were identified in the magnetosphere as the possible cause of relativistic electron precipitation (REP) events at International Space Station (ISS).

We provide a quantitative estimate of the radiation dose during relativistic electron precipitation (REP) events at the International Space Station (ISS). To this goal, we take advantage of the data collected by the CALorimetric Electron Telescope, the Monitor of All-sky X-ray Image, and the Space Environment Data Acquisition equipment-Attached Payload. The three ISS detectors offer complementary REP observations, including energy spectra and flux directional information, during a period of approximately 2.5 years, from November 2015 to March 2018. We have identified 762 REP events during this period from which we obtain the distribution of radiation dose, relevant to extravehicular activities outside the ISS.Plain Language Summary Extravehicular activities outside the International Space Station have been exposed to a sporadic radiation dose due to so-called relativistic electron precipitation events. We evaluate the dose rate of such events at the International Space Station for the first time to determine whether the dose rate poses a significant danger to the health of astronauts.

Real-time estimation of cosmic-ray fluxes on satellite orbits is one of the greatest challenges in space weather research. Therefore, we develop a system for nowcasting and forecasting the galactic cosmic ray (GCR) and solar energetic particle (SEP) fluxes at any location in the magnetosphere and ionosphere during ground-level enhancement (GLE) events. It is an extended version of the WArning System for AVIation Exposure to SEP (WASAVIES), which can determine event profiles by using real-time data of the count rates of several neutron monitors (NMs) at the ground level and high-energy proton fluxes observed by Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) satellites. The extended version, called WASAVIES-EO, can calculate the GCR and SEP fluxes outside a satellite based on its two-line element (TLE) data. Moreover, organ absorbed-dose and dose-equivalent rates of astronauts in the International Space Station (ISS) can be estimated using the system, considering its shielding effect. The accuracy of WASAVIES-EO was validated based on the dose rates measured in ISS, as well as based on high-energy proton fluxes observed by POES satellites during large GLEs that have occurred in the 21st century. Agreement between the nowcast and forecast dose rates in ISS, especially in terms of their temporal structures, indicates the usefulness of the developed system for future mission operations.