Mathematics – Logic
Scientific paper
Dec 2002
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2002agufm.p11b..06z&link_type=abstract
American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2002, abstract #P11B-06
Mathematics
Logic
2114 Energetic Particles, Heliospheric (7514), 2116 Energetic Particles, Planetary, 2118 Energetic Particles, Solar
Scientific paper
The Martian Radiation Environment Experiment (MARIE), aboard the 2001 Mars Odyssey spacecraft, is returning the first detailed radiation data from Mars orbit. Characterization of the Martian radiation environment is a necessary precursor to eventual human exploration of Mars. MARIE, which consists primarily of an 8-element silicon detector telescope, is providing high-quality measurements of Solar Energetic Particles (SEP) from a unique vantage point, and is also able to measure a significant portion of the spectrum of Galactic Cosmic Rays (GCR). The GCR are composed of atomic nuclei with kinetic energies ranging from tens of MeV per nucleon to hundreds of GeV per nucleon and higher. Energy distributions typically peak in the region of several hundred MeV per nucleon. These highly charged and energetic particles can penetrate tens of centimeters of matter, including tissue and practical depths of spacecraft shielding. The combination of high energy and high ionization associated with heavy nuclei in the GCR make these particles much more effective in causing biological damage than a comparable dose of sparsely-ionizing radiation such as muons or X-rays. These particles therefore present a potentially serious long-term health risk to astronauts, particularly on missions outside the protection of the geomagnetosphere. At Mars, the GCR spectrum is expected to be substantially the same as seen at Earth, modulated slightly by variations in the solar magnetic field. The spectrum of SEP tends to be dominated by low-energy protons; though less exotic than heavy ions in the GCR, these particles, produced in Coronal Mass Ejections, pose the risk of acute radiation exposure, owing to the high fluxes that are often generated. SEP spectra for a given CME may be entirely different at Earth and Mars, for a variety of reasons. MARIE has been operational in Mars orbit since March 2002. Several solar events have been observed, in addition to GCR ions. We will present dosimetric results as well as preliminary particle spectra from SEP and GCR.
Andersen Victor
Atwell William
Cleghorn Timothy Fuller
Cucinotta Francis A.
Lee Timothy K.
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