Implications of the new radiation exposure limits on Space Station Freedom crewsLevels of acceptable risk of radiation exposure for SSF crews have been studied. Since the cancer risk per dose equivalent has increased over the last decade, new dose-equivalent limits have been recommended. An astronaut may not receive more than a depth-dose equivalent of 50 rem/year. It is found that a 180-day stay aboard Freedom could result in a worst case depth-dose of 30 rem, and a 180-day mission in a nominally shielded spacecraft in a constant atmospheric density orbit with a varying altitude could result in a depth-dose equivalent of 10 rem. This is twice the annual allowable dose-equivalent for terrestrial radiation workers. It is noted that the present understanding of the biological effectiveness of high-LET radiation is not adequate for accurate health risk assessments and that further research is necessary.
Document ID
19910043084
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Stanford, M. (McDonnell Douglas Space Systems Co., Space Station Div., Houston TX, United States)
Nachtwey, D. S. (NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Date Acquired
August 14, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1990
Subject Category
Aerospace Medicine
Meeting Information
Meeting: Space 90: The Second International Conference