Interplanetary crew dose rates for the August 1972 solar particle event

Area of Science:

• Space radiation
• Radiation transport modeling
• Space exploration safety

Background:

• Space missions outside Earth's magnetosphere expose crews to significant radiation.
• Solar particle events (SPEs) represent a major radiation hazard.
• Accurate dose rate estimations are crucial for astronaut safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To estimate crew dose rates during the August 1972 solar particle event (SPE).
• To assess radiation exposure behind various aluminum shielding thicknesses.
• To compare the 1972 SPE radiation levels with other significant events.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the coupled neutron-proton space radiation transport computer code (BRYNTRN).
• Calculated dose rates for skin, ocular lens, and bone marrow.
• Simulated exposure behind different thicknesses of aluminum shielding.

Main Results:

• The August 1972 SPE resulted in significantly higher dose rates compared to August-December 1989 events.
• Estimated dose rates were not considered low by major national and international advisory bodies.
• Radiation exposure varied based on shielding thickness and tissue type.

Conclusions:

• The August 1972 SPE presented a substantial radiation hazard to interplanetary crews.
• Current shielding may not adequately protect against such intense solar particle events.
• Further research is needed to establish robust radiation protection standards for deep space missions.