Bubble-detector measurements in the Russian segment of the International Space Station during 2009-12.
Measurements using bubble detectors have been performed in order to characterise the neutron dose and energy spectrum in the Russian segment of the International Space Station (ISS). Experiments using bubble dosemeters and a bubble-detector spectrometer, a set of six detectors with different energy thresholds that is used to determine the neutron spectrum, were performed during the ISS-22 (2009) to ISS-33 (2012) missions. The spectrometric measurements are in good agreement with earlier data, exhibiting expected features of the neutron energy spectrum in space. Experiments using a hydrogenous radiation shield show that the neutron dose can be reduced by shielding, with a reduction similar to that determined in earlier measurements using bubble detectors. The bubble-detector data are compared with measurements performed on the ISS using other instruments and are correlated with potential influencing factors such as the ISS altitude and the solar activity. Surprisingly, these influences do not seem to have a strong effect on the neutron dose or energy spectrum inside the ISS.
Bubble Technology Industries, PO Box 100, Chalk River, ON, Canada K0J 1J0 smithm@bubbletech.ca.
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Smith
State Scientific Centre, Institute for Biomedical Problems, Russian Academy of Sciences, 76A Khoroshevskoe Sh., 123007 Moscow, Russia RSC-Energia, 4A Lenin Str., 141070 Korolev, Moscow Region, Russia.
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Khulapko
Bubble Technology Industries, PO Box 100, Chalk River, ON, Canada K0J 1J0.
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Andrews
State Scientific Centre, Institute for Biomedical Problems, Russian Academy of Sciences, 76A Khoroshevskoe Sh., 123007 Moscow, Russia.
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Arkhangelsky
Bubble Technology Industries, PO Box 100, Chalk River, ON, Canada K0J 1J0.
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Ing
Faculty of Energy Systems and Nuclear Science, University of Ontario Institute of Technology, 2000 Simcoe Street North, Oshawa, ON, Canada L1H 7K4.
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Lewis
Faculty of Energy Systems and Nuclear Science, University of Ontario Institute of Technology, 2000 Simcoe Street North, Oshawa, ON, Canada L1H 7K4.
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Machrafi
RSC-Energia, 4A Lenin Str., 141070 Korolev, Moscow Region, Russia.
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Nikolaev
State Scientific Centre, Institute for Biomedical Problems, Russian Academy of Sciences, 76A Khoroshevskoe Sh., 123007 Moscow, Russia.
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Shurshakov
D003359:Cosmic Radiation; D006801:Humans; D018499:Linear Energy Transfer; D009502:Neutrons; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011834:Radiation Monitoring / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D011835:Radiation Protection; D012426:Russia; D013026:Space Flight; D018531:Spacecraft / Q000295:instrumentation; D013997:Time Factors