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Assessment of the Influence of the RaD-X Balloon Payload on the Onboard Radiation DetectorsThe NASA Radiation Dosimetry Experiment (RaD-X) stratospheric balloon flight mission, launched on 25 September 2015, provided dosimetric measurements above the Pfotzer maximum. The goal of taking these measurements is to improve aviation radiation models by providing a characterization of cosmic ray primaries, which are the source of radiation exposure at aviation altitudes. The RaD-X science payload consists of four instruments. The main science instrument is a tissue-equivalent proportional counter (TEPC). The other instruments consisted of three solid state silicon dosimeters: Liulin, Teledyne total ionizing dose (TID) and RaySure detectors. The instruments were housed in an aluminum structure protected by a foam cover. The structure partially shielded the detectors from cosmic rays but also created secondary particles, modifying the ambient radiation environment observed by the instruments. Therefore, it is necessary to account for the influence of the payload structure on the measured doses. In this paper, we present the results of modeling the effect of the balloon payload on the radiation detector measurements using a Geant-4 (GEometry ANd Tracking) application. Payload structure correction factors derived for the TEPC, Liulin, and TID instruments are provided as a function of altitude. Overall, the payload corrections are no more than a 7% effect on the radiation environment measurements.
Document ID
20170000819
Acquisition Source
Langley Research Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Gronoff, Guilluame ORCID
(Science Systems and Applications, Inc. Hampton, VA, United States)
Mertens, Christopher J. ORCID
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Norman, Ryan B. ORCID
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Straume, Tore
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Lusby, Terry C.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
January 26, 2017
Publication Date
September 27, 2016
Publication Information
Publication: Space Weather
Publisher: American Geophysical Union
Volume: 14
Issue: 10
ISSN: 1539-4956
e-ISSN: 1542-7390
Subject Category
Space Radiation
Report/Patent Number
NF1676L-24338
Funding Number(s)
PROJECT: SCMD-EarthScienceSystem_383807
WBS: 383807.02.10.05.01.01
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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