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User:Steve Quinn/Cosmic Ray Telescope for the Effects of Radiation

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The Cosmic Ray Telescope for the Effects of Radiation (CRaTER) on the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) characterizes the radiation environment that will be experienced by humans during future lunar missions. The unprotected lunar environment bathes in solar plasma and space weather. Therefore, CRaTER measures the debilitating effects of radiation (ionizing energy) to matter due to energetic protons, helium ions, and HZE ions, that penetrate materials and skin tissue. This radiation travels through interplanetary space, believed to be carried by the shocks associated with coronal mass ejections, and is a source of space weather. The Cosmic Ray Telescope for the Effects of Radiation (CRaTER) instrument is designed to characterize the global lunar radiation environment and its biological impacts. [1][2]

Determining survivability

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Two forms of radiation pose potential health risks to astronauts in deep space. One is galactic cosmic rays, particles generated by supernova explosions and other high-energy events outside the solar system. The other is solar energetic protons (SEP) associated with solar flares and coronal mass ejections from the sun. [3]

Measurements are specifically enabled with onboard sensors that are silicon - solid-state detectors, and after radiation interactions with this equipment, tissue equivalent plastic (TEP), a synthetic analog of human tissue. CRaTER computes and quantifies how much radiation is imparted to either electronic equipment or human tissue by a process known as linear energy transfer. This is accomplished in tandem with direct measurements with the lunar space radiation environment, particularly the interactions of ions with energies above 10 MeV, which penetrate and are detected by CRaTER.[1][2]

Combined with models of radiation transport through materials, CRaTER LET measurements set limits on allowable ionizing radiation levels in the lunar environment for biological organisms by combining with computer models of radiation transport through materials. It also provides valuable information on radiation effects on electronic systems operating in and deep space. [1][2]

Physical lunar environment

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In addition to these (above) human exploration goals, CRaTER measurements also provide new insights on the spatial and temporal variability of the SEP and GCR populations and their interactions with the lunar surface.[1][2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Spence, H. E.; Case, A. W.; Golightly, M. J.; Heine, T.; Larsen, B. A.; Blake, J. B.; Caranza, P.; Crain, W. R.; George, J. (2010). "CRaTER: The Cosmic Ray Telescope for the Effects of Radiation Experiment on the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Mission". Space Science Reviews. 150: 243. doi:10.1007/s11214-009-9584-8.
  2. ^ a b c d Heliophysics Science and the Moon (Free PDF download). Report to the NASA Advisory Council Heliophysics Subcommittee. NASA. September 2007. pp. 5–15. 20090010241.
    • Authors: Subpanel for Heliophysics Science and the Moon, Heliophysics Subcommittee of the NASA Advisory Council, and other contributors
    • Unclassified; Publicly available; Unlimited; No Copyright
    • Report/Patent Number: NASA/NP-2007-07-80-MSFC, PB2009-102913, Pub 8-40716
  3. ^ This content in the Public Domain courtesy of NASA.NASA's Robotic LRO Spacecraft Provides Data for Human Exploration June 2013.
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