The Altcriss project on board the International Space Station

Abstract

The Altcriss project aims to perform a long term survey of the radiation environment on board the International Space Station. Measurements are being performed with active and passive devices in different locations and orientations of the Russian segment of the station. The goal is to perform a detailed evaluation of the differences in particle fluence and nuclear composition due to different shielding material and attitude of the station. The Sileye-3/Alteino detector is used to identify nuclei up to Iron in the energy range above ≃ 60 MeV/n. Several passive dosimeters (TLDs, CR39) are also placed in the same location of Sileye-3 detector. Polyethylene shielding is periodically interposed in front of the detectors to evaluate the effectiveness of shielding on the nuclear component of the cosmic radiation. The project was submitted to ESA in reply to the AO in the Life and Physical Science of 2004 and data taking began in December 2005. Dosimeters and data cards are rotated every six months: up to now three launches of dosimeters and data cards have been performed and have been returned with the end of expedition 12 and 13.

Radiation dosimetry onboard the International Space Station ISS

“…The Japanese Bonner Ball [36] experiment aimed for the exact determination of the secondary neutron spectra generated by the interaction of the primary radiation field with the hull of the ISS -a research topic still under heavy discussion, since the exact determination of the neutron spectra is crucial for the evaluation of the neutron dose, and can only be achieved with high radiation detector instrument complexity. Italy provided various silicon strip detectors over the last years -as the ALTCRISS [37] and the ALTEA [38] facility, which aim for a precise abundance determination of the heavy ion component of the space radiation environment, and also (ALTEA) are equipped to study the ''light flash phenomena'' [38,39]. In 2004 the MATROSHKA facility was launched for the study of depth dose and organ dose distribution in a human upper torso phantom [40,41] (see ISS -The Matroshka Experiment).…”

Measurements of heavy-ion anisotropy and dose rates in the Russian section of the International Space Station with the Sileye-3/Alteino detector

“…During most of ALTCRISS project measurements passive Thermoluminescent detectors (TLDs [18]) and plastic nuclear track detector (CR-39 detectors [19]) were used in conjunction with Alteino [14]. DLR 8 supplied pairs of TLDs, each pair containing TLD600 and TLD700 of the same types as in the Dosemap experiment [2].…”

“…Alteino was launched in 2002 and placed in the Pirs module. During the ESA ALTCRISS project (Alteino long term monitoring of cosmic rays on the ISS) [14], measurements started in the Pirs module in late December 2005. In early 2006 the detector was moved into the Russian service module, Zvezda, and several measurements in varying locations, orientations and configurations were performed over a period of 30 months.…”

Relative nuclear abundance from C to Fe and integrated flux inside the Russian part of the ISS with the Sileye-3/Alteino experiment

“…Subsequently, during the ESA ALTCRISS project (i.e. Alteino long term monitoring of cosmic rays on the ISS) [18], measurements began in the Pirs module in late December 2005. In early 2006, Sileye-3/Alteino was moved into the Russian service module, Zvezda, and several measurements were performed in a variety of locations, orientations and configurations over a period of 30 months.…”