Low Cost System For Ionizing Radiations Monitoring In Space

Paper number

IAC-12,A1,4,18.p1,x13679

Author

Ms. Chiara Massimiani, Scuola di Ingegneria Aerospaziale "La Sapienza", Italy

Coauthor

Dr. Chantal Cappelletti, G.A.U.S.S. Srl, Italy

Coauthor

Prof. Filippo Graziani, University of Rome “La Sapienza”, Italy

Year

2012

Abstract

Space environment is characterized by microgravity conditions and ionizing radiations. It
has been proven that these peculiarities pose significant health risks for human life in space.
Results of different biomedical researches demonstrate an increase of cancer and osteoporosis
in astronauts exposed to space environment for a relative long period. This is a concern for
future space missions and also for future space civilian flights.
Nevertheless, at the same time it is very interesting to study the effects of these con-
ditions in biomedical samples.
In order to have scientific results it is very important to monitor the space environment and
to have a deep knowledge of the ionizing radiation environment.
The commercial systems available to monitor ionizing radiations in space are very
expansive. For this reason a system able to detect the ionizing radiations maintaining the cost
low has been designed by GAUSS group. The idea is to build an array of photosensors, which
read the light radiation produced by several crystals. The amount of incoming energy will
be then read by the on board computer. Using different crystals is possible to distinguish the
different kind of radiation.
In particular this paper deals with a system based on four different scintillator crystals
that can react to four different kind of radiation (gamma ray, X ray, high energy electron and
neutron). Using this method it is possible to provide quantitative and qualitative information
about radiation hitting samples. The data handling is performed by Arduino board, an open-
source platform that complies with the aim to have an user-friendly university system.
Another important constraint is the room available to board the detector. The idea is
to develop a small system easy to board also inside a small university system such as for
example a CubeLab or a CubeSat.
In particular the system will be tested during the GlioLab and GlioSat missions planned to
be launched on the end of 2012.

Abstract document

IAC-12,A1,4,18.p1,x13679.brief.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-12,A1,4,18.p1,x13679.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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