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Is the Terrestrial Magnetosphere a Natural Radiation Shield on Moon Space Missions ? R. Koleva , B. Tomov, T. Dachev, Yu. Matviichuk, Pl. Dimitrov , Space Research and Technologies Institute Bulgarian Academy of Sciences - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Is the Terrestrial Magnetosphere a
Natural Radiation Shield on Moon
Space Missions ?R. Koleva, B. Tomov, T. Dachev, Yu. Matviichuk, Pl. Dimitrov,
Space Research and Technologies Institute
Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
This work is partially supported by grant DID 02/8 from the Bulgarian National Science Fund
The conference
Radiation and Dosimetry in various Fields of Research
beginning: radiation effects at atomic level
end: radiation in the interplanetary space
Our team has carried out about 20 experiments in near-Earth space and has made 3 attempts to measure the radiation environment in extra-terrestrial space:
- on 2 Russian missions to Mars - unsuccessful launches in 1996 and 2011
- on Indian Moon Mission Chandrayaan-1 in 2008-2009
Sources of radiation in the Earth-Moon systemcomplex radiation field
Galactic cosmic Rays
Galactic cosmic Rays
Solar Cosmic RaysSolar Cosmic Rays
ProtonsProtons, , neutrons neutrons electronselectronsGamma and Roentgen Gamma and Roentgen
Protons, electrons and ions
Protons, electrons and ions
Jovian
Jo
vian
electron
selectro
ns
Anom
alous cosmic rays
Anom
alous cosmic rays
Protons, electrons and ions
Protons, electrons and ions
MOTIVATION
One potential method of radiation mitigation on extra-terrestrial missions is in the form of magnetic fields
For Moon missions the Earth magnetosphere is a source of magnetic field, as the Moon spends about 25% of its orbit inside it
Moon orbit plots in GSE are provided by the Swedish Institute of Space Physics, Kiruna
Brief characteristics of the radiation environment around Moon as measured
by RADOM on CHANDRAYAAN-1
in 2009 - deep and prolonged solar minimum
Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft was launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, SHAR, Sriharikota by PSLV-XL
(PSLV-C11) on 22 October 2008 at 00:52 UT
http://www.isro.org/Chandrayaan/htmls/objective_scientific.htm
Mission profile
Scientific Payload
RADOM Flight model external view
9 pin power and RS-232 data connector
Place and size of the Si detector
Size: 110x40x20 mmWeight: 98 g
Consumption: 124 mW
RADOM is a LIULIN type deviceThe solid-state detector is shielded by several layers with equivalent shielding of about 0.45 g/cm2. Thus, direct hits on the detector are possible for electrons with energies > 0.85 MeV and protons with energies > 17.5 MeV
Comparison of RADOM flux data (10 s. resolution) with
Oulu neutron monitor count rate data (1 min. resolution)
At the 100 km orbit (20/11/2008-18/05/2009) overall particle flux was found to be 2.45 p.cm-2.s-1, and absorbed dose rate was 9.46 Gy.h-1 over 3545 hours of measurements.
During the last three months of the mission (20/05/2009-28/08/2009), Chandrayaan-1 was in 200 km orbit. The flux and dose rate increased slightly to 2.73 p.cm-2.s-1 and 10.7 Gy.h-1 respectively
RADOM data present long-term increase in flux and dose as result of continued low solar activity and respectively increase of GCR.
Can the terrestrial magnetosphere mitigate radiation hazard on Moon missions?
Model calculations are controversial
On one hand
Recent modelling [Winglee, R. M., and E. M. Harnett, GRL 2007], suggested that the terrestrial magnetotail magnetic field can provide a significant level of shielding, the latter depending on IMF orientation and position on lunar surface.
On the other hand
Modeling by Huang, Harlan and Kress, GRL 2009 concluded that Earth’s magnetosphere does not substantially modify GCR (with proton energies greater than 1 MeV) at the lunar environment during typical solar wind conditions.
Using RADOM data
from Chandrayaan-1 satellite
we try to check this hypothesis.
More precisely: Does the magnetotail offer some
protection in Moon orbit?
Magnetotail crossing in January 2009
Geomagnetic conditions: quiet.
In the second half of 9 Jan IMF Bz ~ 5 nT
No effect of the magnetotail on radiation in Moon orbiter!
50 per mov. avr
RADOM average/day flux
In Solar cycle minimum conditions, when there are no SPE and GCR flux is enhanced, Earth magnetosphere does not seem to provide any shielding on Moon orbiter.
The problem of Earth magnetosphere effect on Moon radiation environment needs more detailed investigation, because....
the magnetosphere can make things worse
There was one interesting event in RADOM records
During the whole mission the particle flux was ~ 2.45 p/cm2.s except on March 15 -16 2009
No SPE, no flares identified
GOES satellites showed increase only in electrons >2Mev flux
electrons >2 MeV
GOES-10
GOES-11
On 13 March the magnetosphere was hit by an IS caused by fast solar wind. For several days MS was under continuous driving – conditions favorable for e- acceleration in the inner MS and generation of the
‘killer electrons’
Coronal Coronal
holehole
March 13,2009March 13,2009
Fast solar wind flows originate from coronal holes in the Sun. In the interplanetary space, when the fast wind interacts with the regular slow solar wind an interplanetary shock is formed.
Coronal holes live for several month; fast solar wind flows have a recurrent nature, they appear in several Sun rotations
The appearance of ‘killer’ electrons in correlates well with the fast solar wind, usually ~2 days after the arrival of IS
GOES 10 X-rays
GOES 10 el
Similar event in February
GOES-10
electrons >2 MeVGOES 10 el
GOES 10 X-rays
CONCLUSION
In Solar cycle minimum conditions, when there are no SPE and GCR flux is enhanced, we could not find any indication that Earth magnetosphere can provide additional shielding on Moon orbiter
There are some evidence that magnetospheric disturbances could affect the radiation environment on Moon orbiter, but more detailed research should be done
Thank you for your attention!