NASA’s first exploration mission (ORION Exploration Mission 1, ORION EM-1), without a crew at this time, is due at the end of 2019 the earliest. Our group has been also invited to join the programme with passive dosimeters! ORION EM-1 will return to Earth and re-entry after a three-week flight to and around the Moon.
Our group has already participated with similar detectors in different space radiation and dosimetry experiments on the International Space Station (ISS) since 2001. The measurements performed in the frame of the DOSIS (2009-2012) and the DOSIS-3D (2012-2024) programmes led by the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) are used for dosimetry mapping of the European Columbus module. Our colleagues have been participating these measurements since their beginning which will last until the end of the lifetime of the ISS, i.e. until 2024.
Based on our collaboration within DOSIS 3D, our institute has been recently invited to participate with passive detectors within the NASA MATROSHKA AstroRad Radiation Experiment (MARE). In the experiment, two anthropomorphic female phantoms equipped with passive and active radiation detectors and one phantom equipped in addition with the AstroRad vest developed by the Israeli company StemRad, will replace the astronauts in their seats.
Artist’s view of the ORION EM-1 spacecraft (credits: NASA)
If everything goes well, MTA EK will join a NASA program again, this time in a mission to the Moon!
Attila Hirn