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Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics
The Radiation Environment Near The Lunar Surface: Crater Observations And Geant4 Simulations, M. D. Looper, J. E. Mazur, J. B. Blake, Harlan E. Spence, Nathan A. Schwadron, M. J. Golightly, A. W. Case, J. C. Kasper, L. W. Townsend
The Radiation Environment Near The Lunar Surface: Crater Observations And Geant4 Simulations, M. D. Looper, J. E. Mazur, J. B. Blake, Harlan E. Spence, Nathan A. Schwadron, M. J. Golightly, A. W. Case, J. C. Kasper, L. W. Townsend
Physics & Astronomy
[1] At the start of the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter mission in 2009, its Cosmic Ray Telescope for the Effects of Radiation instrument measured the radiation environment near the Moon during the recent deep solar minimum, when galactic cosmic rays (GCRs) were at the highest level observed during the space age. We present observations that show the combined effects of GCR primaries, secondary particles (“albedo”) created by the interaction of GCRs with the lunar surface, and the interactions of these particles in the shielding material overlying the silicon solid-state detectors of the Cosmic Ray Telescope for the Effects of Radiation. We …
New Measurements Of Total Ionizing Dose In The Lunar Environment, J. E. Mazur, W. R. Crain, M. D. Looper, D. J. Mabry, J. B. Blake, A. W. Case, M. J. Golightly, J. C. Kasper, Harlan E. Spence
New Measurements Of Total Ionizing Dose In The Lunar Environment, J. E. Mazur, W. R. Crain, M. D. Looper, D. J. Mabry, J. B. Blake, A. W. Case, M. J. Golightly, J. C. Kasper, Harlan E. Spence
Physics & Astronomy
[1] We report new measurements of solar minimum ionizing radiation dose at the Moon onboard the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) from June 2009 through May 2010. The Cosmic Ray Telescope for the Effects of Radiation (CRaTER) instrument on LRO houses a compact and highly precise microdosimeter whose design allows measurements of dose rates below 1 micro-Rad per second in silicon achieved with minimal resources (20 g, ∼250 milliwatts, and ∼3 bits/second). We envision the use of such a small yet accurate dosimeter in many future spaceflight applications where volume, mass, and power are highly constrained. As this was the first …
Assessing Access Of Galactic Cosmic Rays At Moon's Orbit, Chia-Lin L. Huang, Harlan E. Spence, B. T. Kress
Assessing Access Of Galactic Cosmic Rays At Moon's Orbit, Chia-Lin L. Huang, Harlan E. Spence, B. T. Kress
Physics & Astronomy
[1] Characterizing the lunar radiation environment is essential for preparing future robotic and human explorations on lunar bases. Galactic cosmic rays (GCR) represent one source of ionizing radiation at the Moon that poses a biological risk. Because GCR are charged particles, their paths are affected by the magnetic fields along their trajectories. Unlike the Earth, the Moon has no strong, shielding magnetic field of its own. However, as it orbits Earth, the Moon traverses not only the weak interplanetary magnetic field but also the distant magnetic tail of Earth's magnetosphere. We combine an empirical magnetic field model of Earth's magnetosphere …