Automated Radiation Measurements for Aerospace Safety - Dual Monitor (ARMAS-DM)

The Automated Radiation Measurements for Aerospace Safety – Dual Monitor (ARMAS-DM) project addresses these science and engineering goals:1) demonstrate a real-time COTS-based technology for regional ionizing-radiation monitoring at high altitudes and high latitudes using two simultaneous balloons; 2) enable a game-changing technology for global aviation safety; 3) aid human space exploration by helping specify the radiation environment consistently from the surface to Low Earth Orbit (LEO); 4) provide data for assimilation into the NASA NAIRAS radiation model now being applied to the International Space Station (ISS) radiation safety protocol; and 5) enable a better understanding of the dynamic and variable radiation environment due to all sources for altitudes transitioning into space by measuring both total dose and energy. We combine proven radiation detection using up to five sensors (two total ionizing dose micro dosimeter (ARMAS), one tissue equivalent proportional counter linear energy transfer spectra detector (ATED), possibly one advanced neutron spectrometer (ANS), and one Silicon linear energy transfer dosimeter (Liulin). We will combine them with Iridium data downlink and ground data-processing server facilities for two long-duration balloons flights to demonstrate long-term, regional monitoring that enables aviation radiation risk management. We will directly monitor the changing radiation environment due to space weather, i.e., Galactic Cosmic Rays (GCRs) and trapped energetic electron precipitation (EEP), which are the main sources of radiation from commercial aviation to LEO altitudes. Detection of a rare solar proton event (SPE) would be serendipitous, however, we do not expect to see SPEs and success does not require their detection. We will measure absorbed dose (silicon) and derive effective dose rates (human tissue).