月球表面次级中子辐射环境仿真研究

由于缺少磁场和大气,宇宙线高能粒子轰击月壤可以形成月球特有的强中子辐射环境,并对航天员和电子设备造成潜在威胁。文章采用蒙特卡罗方法仿真研究宇宙线高能粒子辐射与月壤成分核反应产生的次级中子能谱特征,给出不同太阳活动、不同月壤深度下月球中子能谱特征和空间分布特征。仿真结果表明,宇宙线高能粒子导致的次级中子随着月壤深度的增加先增大后减小,大约在1 m深度达到最大值,深度越深银河宇宙线诱发的中子贡献越大。相关结果可为我国后续载人月球探测任务的辐射防护设计提供参考。     

深空环境中铁离子剂量场研究

银河系宇宙射线是深空辐射环境的重要组成部分,在长时间的深空探测中,银河系宇宙射线对宇航员的积累损伤不可忽视。对深空环境下银河系宇宙射线进行了研究,并重点讨论了银河系宇宙射线中Fe离子的剂量场性质。以CREME模型为基础计算得到Fe离子注量谱,对深空环境中的Fe离子的剂量学性质进行细致研究,分析研究了Fe离子的原初粒子造成的剂量场,及经过屏蔽后其碎片及次级中子对内部辐射场造成的影响及对剂量的贡献,并对结果进行了分析,得到的结果对载人航天具有重要意义。
     

典型星载遥感器光学系统总剂量效应防护方法与设计

针对空间不连续工作的典型星载光学遥感器的结构和光学系统,进行抗辐射薄弱环节与总剂量效应的仿真分析计算,提出在遥感器入光口遮光罩处增加防护盖以降低光学系统中辐射吸收剂量预示最大位置处的吸收剂量,并对防护盖的具体参数进行仿真优化设计。研究表明:光学系统各光学部件所在位置辐射吸收剂量处于不均匀状态,接收地物信息的第一镜体处的预示值最大;安装防护盖后,可大幅降低该处的辐射吸收剂量,使之与其他部位的吸收剂量处于同一量级水平;防护盖的实施参数以厚度1~3 mm、距离入光口遮光罩端部小于20 mm为最佳。文章最后描述了防护盖设计方法的通用性,给出了防护盖的适用技术条件。     

模拟载人探月中航天员空间辐射风险评估

空间辐射是长期载人航天飞行任务中影响航天员健康的重要风险因素。为了探求载人探月过程中对空间辐射的合理防护方式,文章借助空间辐射场模型对"嫦娥三号"飞行任务在不同质量厚度材料屏蔽下的舱内空间辐射环境进行了仿真计算,并确定了航天员各器官接受的空间辐射剂量、剂量当量以及有效剂量等辐射防护量以进行辐射风险评估。结果表明,随着屏蔽厚度的增加,航天员的各组织或器官的吸收剂量和剂量当量以及有效剂量均明显降低;采用质量屏蔽的方法对低于100 Me V的质子具有很好的防护效果,但对高能质子或重离子的防护效果不明显。计算和分析显示,载人探月过程中,只要采取适当的防护措施,航天员的空间辐射风险是可控的。     

深空条件下航天器内的辐射环境研究

深空存在具有各种能量分布的粒子,这些能量分布范围很宽的粒子构成了深空环境下航天器外部的空间辐射环境。深空条件下的高能粒子会穿透航天器舱壁材料,通过射线与物质材料的相互作用,在航天器内产生二次粒子,形成由初级粒子、次级粒子叠加的混合辐射场的辐射环境。文章分析研究了高能α粒子及Fe离子在屏蔽材料中的输运过程,得到了在这些介质中的射程与能量关系及产生的二次粒子产额,为控制航天器内的辐射环境提供支撑。     

基于双二体假设的载人登月自由返回轨道特性分析及设计

载人登月轨道设计是载人登月任务的基础。首先分析自由返回轨道在载人登月轨道设计中 的基础性作用;然后,给出双二体假设下自由返回轨道的计算模型;在此基础上,对自由返 回轨道的飞行时间、轨道倾角、近月距和轨道拼接点分布等参数进行特性分析。最后,给出 基于双二体假设的轨道初步设计流程和设计实例,仿真结果验证了本文提出方法的有效性。
     

载人深空长期飞行辐射粒子的磁场防护探讨

简介了空间辐射环境中的银河宇宙线和太阳质子事件及其对航天员的辐射危害;根据辐射危害防护需求,比较了磁场偏转、电场抵消和等离子体偏转3种防护方法的原理和优缺点;对载人火星探测选用的磁场防护方法进行了初步分析和数值仿真。分析表明:偏转200 MeV能量以下的质子,须在航天器上建造半径2.04km,质量2240kg,通过电流1600A的环形线圈。此方法可以使进入航天器舱室的宇宙线粒子总通量降低3个数量级,能显著地降低空间粒子对航天员的危害。分析结果可为载人深空飞行项目的任务规划、载人飞船设计、辐射危害评价防护措施的制定等提供参考。     

利用有限元计算方法优化KM6载人试验舱隔板结构

介绍了利用有限元计算方法来优化 KM6载人试验舱隔板的结构。通过优化计算,减轻了载人试验舱隔板的质量,取得了良好的效果。     

航天器载人试验舱的设计

介绍了载人试验舱的结构特点、有限元计算及载人试验舱几个主要的部件。     

粒子侵蚀潜入喷管端头的质量损失率计算

粒子侵蚀对潜入式喷管端头的影响非常明显,已引起了喷管设计人员的关注。本文介绍了粒子侵蚀喷管的烧蚀计算。分析与计算结果表明,对喷管潜入段端头区主要是粒子侵蚀(即机械剥蚀)造成的质量损失,热化学烧蚀仅占总损失量的25%左右。喉道区及扩散段,则为热化学烧蚀。计算结果表明:粒子侵蚀引起的质量损失与粒子速度、粒子半径、粒子冲角有关。粒子半径越大,造成的质量损失越大,粒子冲角越大,造成的质量损失也越大,而冲角的影响作用更明显。对有粒子侵蚀时典型喷管的烧蚀计算结果与试验测量结果比较表明,用本文提供的方法所得到的理论计算值与试验测量值符合较好,能满足工程设计的需要。     

On the problem of lunar radiation environment

In connection with projects of manned bases on the Moon it becomes topical to estimate radiation danger for their inhabitants. In this paper we describe a method of evaluation of the radiation environment on the lunar surface produced by galactic and solar cosmic rays. The roles of both primary and secondary radiations generated in the depth of the lunar soil under the action of high-energy protons and nuclei are taken into account. Calculated fluxes of particles are used in order to estimate annual averaged absorbed and equivalent local dose rates in tissues. It is established that in the lunar rock the contribution of secondary neutrons to the dose rate exceeds that of protons. The contribution of the secondary particles generated by nuclei of galactic cosmic rays to the dose rate is estimated.     

Assessment of the radiation environment on the Moon

In connection with projects on a manned base on the Moon, the assessment of radiation risk to staff of the base owing to galactic (GCR) and solar (SEP) cosmic radiation becomes very relevant. The paper describes the methodology for assessing the radiation environment on the lunar surface and in the depths of lunar soil taking into account the primary and secondary radiation caused by protons and nuclei of GCR and SEP. Calculated fluencies of particles are used to estimate the average annual absorbed and equivalent local doses in tissue. Contribution to the dose of secondary neutrons at depths of lunar soil exceeds the contribution of protons. Contribution to the dose of secondary particles generated by GCR nuclei should be taken into account.     

Acceleration and particle transport in collisionless plasma in the process of dipolarization and nonstationary turbulence

This work is devoted to studying the processes of the acceleration of plasma particles in thin current sheets that appear during magnetospheric substorms in the Earth’s magnetosphere tail. A numerical model of magnetic dipolarization accompanied by plasma turbulence has been constructed and studied. The model allows one to investigate the particle acceleration due to the action of three principal mechanisms: (1) plasma turbulence; (2) magnetic dipolarization; (3) their simultaneous action. For the given velocity kappa-distributions, we obtained energy spectra of three types of accelerated particles, i.e., protons p⁺, ions of oxygen O⁺, and electrons e^–. It has been shown that the combined mechanism of dipolarization with turbulence (3) makes the largest contribution to the increase in the energy of protons and heavy ions as compared with a separate action of each of mechanisms (1) and (2); in this case, electrons accelerate less. The consideration of the joint action of acceleration mechanisms (1) and (2) can explain the apparition of particles with energies on the order of magnitude equal to hundreds keV in the Earth’s magnetosphere tail.     

Dose estimates in a lunar shelter with regolith shielding

Beyond the Earth's atmosphere, galactic cosmic radiation (GCR) and solar energetic particles (SEPs) are a significant hazard to both manned and robotic missions. For long human missions on the lunar surface (months to a year) a radiation shelter is needed for dose mitigation and emergency protection in case of solar events. This paper investigates the interaction of source protons of solar events like those of February 1956 that emitted many fewer particles with energies up to 1000 MeV and of the October 1989 event of lower protons energy but higher fluence, with the lunar regolith and aluminum shielding of a lunar shelter. The shelter is 5 m in diameter and has a footprint of 5×8 m and a 10 cm thick aluminum support structure, however, actual thickness could be much smaller (～1–2 cm) depending on the weight of the regolith shielding piled on top. The regolith is shown to be slightly more effective than aluminum. Thus, the current results are still applicable for a thinner aluminum structure and increased equivalent (or same mass) thickness of the regolith. The shielding thicknesses to reduce the dose solely due to solar protons in the lunar shelter below those recommended by NASA to astronauts for 30 day-operation in space (250 mSv) and for radiation workers (50 mSv) are determined and compared. The relative attenuation of incident solar protons with regolith shielding and the dose estimates inside the shelter are calculated for center seeking, planar, and isotropic incidence of the source protons. With the center seeking incidence, the dose estimates are the highest, followed by those with isotropic incidence, and the lowest are those with the planar incidence.     

Probabilistic assessment of radiation risk for astronauts in space missions

Accurate estimations of the health risks to astronauts due to space radiation exposure are necessary for future lunar and Mars missions. Space radiation consists of solar particle events (SPEs), comprised largely of medium energy protons (less than several hundred MeV); and galactic cosmic rays (GCR), which include high-energy protons and heavy ions. While the frequency distribution of SPEs depends strongly upon the phase within the solar activity cycle, the individual SPE occurrences themselves are random in nature. A solar modulation model has been developed for the temporal characterization of the GCR environment, which is represented by the deceleration potential, ?. The risk of radiation exposure to astronauts as well as to hardware from SPEs during extra-vehicular activities (EVAs) or in lightly shielded vehicles is a major concern for radiation protection. To support the probabilistic risk assessment for EVAs, which could be up to 15% of crew time² on lunar missions, we estimated the probability of SPE occurrence as a function of solar cycle phase using a non-homogeneous Poisson model [1] to fit the historical database of measurements of protons with energy>30 MeV, Φ₃₀. The resultant organ doses and dose equivalents, as well as effective whole body doses, for acute and cancer risk estimations are analyzed for a conceptual habitat module and for a lunar rover during space missions of defined durations. This probabilistic approach to radiation risk assessment from SPE and GCR is in support of mission design and operational planning for future manned space exploration missions.     

Fluxes of low-energy particles in quiet periods of solar activity and the <Emphasis Type="Italic">MgII</Emphasis> index

Low fluxes of protons with energies 0.3–10 MeV were studied during 21–23 solar cycles as a function of the MgII index using the data of the instruments CPME, EIS (IMP8), and EPHIN (SOHO). It has been shown that a) during quiet time of solar activity the fluxes of protons (background protons) have a positive correlation with the MgII index value throughout the solar cycle, b) specific features of variations of the MgII index during the solar minima of 1986–1987 and 1996–1997 can be considered, as well as variations of background fluxes of low energy charged particles, to be manifestations of the 22-year magnetic cycle of the Sun, and c) periods of the lowest value of the MgII index are also characterized by the smaller values of the ratio of intensities of protons and helium nuclei than in other quiet periods. A hypothesis is put forward that acceleration in a multitude of weak solar flares is one of the sources of background fluxes of low energy particles in the interplanetary space.     

Empirical model of pitch-angle distributions of trapped protons on the inner boundary of the Earth’s radiation belt

We have made a generalization of experimental data on the fluxes of trapped protons that were detected by various instruments on three low-orbit satellites (NOAA-17, Universitetskii-Tatiana, and CORONAS-F) during April of 2005. Based on these data, a new quantitative model is suggested to describe the fluxes of trapped protons. It allows one, using analytical expressions, to predict the fluxes of protons with energy from 30 keV to 140 MeV under quiet geomagnetic conditions in the period close to the solar activity minimum at drift shells L = 1.14–1.4. The suggested model establishes differential directional fluxes of protons as a function of pitchangle on the geomagnetic equator and takes into account the anisotropy of trapped particles on the lower boundary of the Earth’s radiation belt.     

模拟地球同步轨道粒子辐照环境对若干航天器热控涂层太阳吸收率的影响

文章是用开发的一个计算机数字计算的模型来计算粒子辐照下材料中的吸收能量剖面.文章介绍了航天器的热控涂层试验,用改变入射质子和电子能量的办法,模拟同步轨道辐射环境.通过对几种涂层(白漆、黑漆、二次表面镜等)分别进行3年和10年的轨道模拟环境试验,并在真空环境中和空气中测量其反射率的变化,确定了电子和质子对这些材料所产生的影响.     

Detection and Prediction of Absorbed Radiation Doses from Solar Proton Fluxes onboard Orbital Stations

We consider cases of simultaneous detection of the absorbed doses produced by proton fluxes of powerful solar events onboard the Mir and ISS orbital stations and the Ekspress A3 geosynchronous satellite. Experimental data are analyzed using a software package that takes into account the energy spectra of protons at the Earth's orbit depending on the time of event evolution, as well as their penetration to near-earth orbits and through the protective shields of spacecraft. Based on a comparison of the experimental data of dosimeters with the calculation of absorbed doses under the action of solar proton events, we developed a method of estimating the effective thickness of the shielding of dosimeters and made some estimates. A possibility is considered for predicting the radiation hazard onboard orbital stations upon the appearance of solar proton events using dosimeter data from a geosynchronous orbit.     

Time profile of cosmic radiation exposure during the EXPOSE-E mission: the R3DE instrument

The aim of this paper is to present the time profile of cosmic radiation exposure obtained by the Radiation Risk Radiometer-Dosimeter during the EXPOSE-E mission in the European Technology Exposure Facility on the International Space Station's Columbus module. Another aim is to make the obtained results available to other EXPOSE-E teams for use in their data analysis. Radiation Risk Radiometer-Dosimeter is a low-mass and small-dimension automatic device that measures solar radiation in four channels and cosmic ionizing radiation as well. The main results of the present study include the following: (1) three different radiation sources were detected and quantified-galactic cosmic rays (GCR), energetic protons from the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA) region of the inner radiation belt, and energetic electrons from the outer radiation belt (ORB); (2) the highest daily averaged absorbed dose rate of 426 μGy d(-1) came from SAA protons; (3) GCR delivered a much smaller daily absorbed dose rate of 91.1 μGy d(-1), and the ORB source delivered only 8.6 μGy d(-1). The analysis of the UV and temperature data is a subject of another article (Schuster et al., 2012 ).