title: Mars' surface radiation environment measured with the Mars Science Laboratory's Curiosity rover.
abstract: The Radiation Assessment Detector (RAD) on the Mars Science Laboratory's Curiosity rover began making detailed measurements of the cosmic ray and energetic particle radiation environment on the surface of Mars on 7 August 2012. We report and discuss measurements of the absorbed dose and dose equivalent from galactic cosmic rays and solar energetic particles on the martian surface for ~300 days of observations during the current solar maximum. These measurements provide insight into the radiation hazards associated with a human mission to the surface of Mars and provide an anchor point with which to model the subsurface radiation environment, with implications for microbial survival times of any possible extant or past life, as well as for the preservation of potential organic biosignatures of the ancient martian environment.
authors: Southwest Research Institute, Boulder, CO 80302, USA.
authors: Donald M
authors: DM
authors: Hassler
authors: Cary
authors: C
authors: Zeitlin
authors: Robert F
authors: RF
authors: Wimmer-Schweingruber
authors: Bent
authors: B
authors: Ehresmann
authors: Scot
authors: S
authors: Rafkin
authors: Jennifer L
authors: JL
authors: Eigenbrode
authors: David E
authors: DE
authors: Brinza
authors: Gerald
authors: G
authors: Weigle
authors: Stephan
authors: S
authors: Böttcher
authors: Eckart
authors: E
authors: Böhm
authors: Soenke
authors: S
authors: Burmeister
authors: Jingnan
authors: J
authors: Guo
authors: Jan
authors: J
authors: Köhler
authors: Cesar
authors: C
authors: Martin
authors: Guenther
authors: G
authors: Reitz
authors: Francis A
authors: FA
authors: Cucinotta
authors: Myung-Hee
authors: MH
authors: Kim
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Grinspoon
authors: Mark A
authors: MA
authors: Bullock
authors: Arik
authors: A
authors: Posner
authors: Javier
authors: J
authors: Gómez-Elvira
authors: Ashwin
authors: A
authors: Vasavada
authors: John P
authors: JP
authors: Grotzinger
mesh_terms: D003359:Cosmic Radiation; D034301:Deinococcus / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D018559:Exobiology; D005118:Extraterrestrial Environment; D006801:Humans; D018535:Mars; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000032:analysis; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D013026:Space Flight; D013499:Surface Properties / Q000528:radiation effects
chemical_list: D009930:Organic Chemicals