Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 26, 2026

Irradiator Commissioning and Dosimetry for Assessment of LQ α and β Parameters, Radiation Dosing Schema, and in vivo Dose Deposition
Published on: March 11, 2021
Pioneer 10 and 11 Jovian encounters: radiation dose and biological lethality
M W Miller1, G E Kaufman, H D Maillie
1Dept. Radiation Biology and Biophysics, University of Rochester, NY, USA.
Abstract:
In their recent Jupiter flybys Pioneer 10 and Pioneer 11 passed through a belt of intense particulate radiation. For Pioneer 10 the radiation dose on the craft's outer surface was at least 5 x 10(5) rads from electrons plus 1.0 x 10(6) rads from protons; the radiation dose inside the craft (0.3 cm aluminum) was approximately 4.5 x 10(5) rads. For Pioneer 11 the surface dose was at least 1.3 x 10(5) rads from electrons plus 3 x 10(5) rads from protons; the interior radiation dose was approximately 1.2 x 10(5) rads. Significant survival of microbial spores would be possible at these calculated doses; however, even the interior dose of Pioneer 11 would be lethal to man and most multicellular biological organisms.
Related Concept Videos
Biological Effects of Radiation
Absorption of Radiation
Mutagenicity and Carcinogenicity
Bioactivation and Tissue Toxicity
Teratogenicity
Radioactive Decay and Radiometric Dating
