This content is not included in
your SAE MOBILUS subscription, or you are not logged in.
Solar Flare Protection for Manned Lunar Missions: Analysis of the October 1989 Proton Flare Event
Annotation ability available
Sector:
Language:
English
Abstract
Several large solar proton events occurred in the latter half of 1989. For a moderately shielded spacecraft in free space, the potential exposure would have been greatest for the flare which occurred between October 19 to 27, 1989. This flare was comparable to the large flare event of August 1972. The temporal variations of the proton energy spectra at approximately 1 AU were monitored by the GOES-7 satellite. These data, recorded and processed at the NOAA-Boulder Space Environment Laboratory, provide the opportunity to analyze dose rates and cumulative doses which might be incurred by astronauts in transit to, or on, the moon. Of particular importance in such an event is the time development of exposure in the early phases of the flare, for which dose rates may range over many orders of magnitude in the first few hours. Consequently, special attention is given to the early time variation of the dose rate. The cumulative dose as a function of time for the entire event is also predicted. In addition to basic shield calculations, dose rate contours are constructed for flare shelters in free-space and on the lunar surface. For longer duration lunar missions, the impact of such a flare exposure is assessed in relation to the predicted steady dose rate of the galactic cosmic rays.
Authors
Citation
Simonsen, L., Nealy, J., Sauer, H., and Townsend, L., "Solar Flare Protection for Manned Lunar Missions: Analysis of the October 1989 Proton Flare Event," SAE Technical Paper 911351, 1991, https://doi.org/10.4271/911351.Also In
References
- Guidance on Radiation Received in Space Activities: Recommendations of the National Council on Radiation and Measurements NCRP Report No. 98 July 31 1989
- Heckman, G. Hirman, J. Kunches, J. Balch, C. “The Monitoring and Prediction of Solar Particle Events-An Experience Report.” Adv. Space Res. 4 10 1984 165 172
- Nealy, J.E. Wilson, J.W. Townsend, L.W. Solar-Flare Shielding with Regolith at a Lunar-Base site NASA TP-2869 1989
- Townsend, L.W. Nealy, J.E. Wilson, J.W. Atwell, W. “Large Solar Flare Radiation Shielding Requirements for Manned Interplanetary Missions.” Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets 26 2 March-April 1989 126 128
- Townsend, L.W. Wilson, J.W. Shinn, J.L. Curtis, S.B. “Human Exposure to Large Solar Particle Events in Space.” Advances in Space Research 1991
- Sauer, H.H. Zwickl, R.D. Ness, M.J. Summary Data for the Solar Energetic Particle Events of August through December 1989 NOAA-Space Environment Laboratory 1990
- Nealy, J.E. Simonsen, L.C. Wilson, J.W. Townsend, L.W. Space Radiation Dose Analysis for Solar Flare of August 1989 NASA TM-4229 1990
- Wilson, J.W. Townsend, L.W. Nealy, J.E. Chun, S.Y. Hong, D.S. Buck, W.W. Lamkin, S.L. Ganapol, B.D. Khan, F. Cucinotta F.A. BRYNTRN: A Baryon Transport Model NASA TP-2887 1989
- Wilson, J.W. Analysis of the Theory of High Energy Transport NASA TN D-8381 1977
- Wilson, J.W. Townsend, L.W. “A Benchmark for Galactic Cosmic Ray Transport Codes,” Radiation Research 114 2 May 1988 201 207
- Recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection ICRP Publ. 26 Pergamon Press Jan. 17 1977
- Wilson, J.W. Khandelwal, G.S. Shinn, J.L. Nealy, J.E. Townsend, L.W. Cucinotta, F.A. Simplified Model for Solar Cosmic Ray Exposure in Manned Orbital Flights NASA TM-4182 1990
- Nealy, J.E. Simonsen, L.C. Wilson, J.W. Townsend, L.W. Qualls, G.D. Schnitzler, B.G. Gates M.M. “Radiation Exposure and Dose Estimates For A Nuclear-Powered Manned Mars Sprint Mission.” Eighth Symposium on Space Nuclear Power Systems Albuquerque, NM January 6-10 1991 531 536
- Nealy, J.E. Wilson, J.W. Townsend, L.W. “Preliminary Analysis of Space Radiation Protection for Lunar Base Surface Systems.” SAE Paper No. 891487 19th Intersociety Conference on Environmental Systems San Diego, CA 1989