A Note on the Galactic Radiation Exposure in Geomagnetically Unprotected Regions of Space

• Author(s): Hermann J. Schaefer,
• Publisher: U.S. Naval Aerospace Medical Institute, Naval Aerospace Medical Center
• Pages: 14
• Language: en

Description:... Measurements of the galactic flux at low rigidities during the Years of the Quiet Sun 1964-65 indicate that the galactic radiation is still modulated at solar minimum with the differential flux at low rigidities strongly depressed. Thus it is assumed that, in space systems of low shielding, no exceptionally large skin doses in a human target will result. This is quite different from that occurring from trapped radiation and solar particle beams. A conservative estimate for the total dose from galactic radiation at solar minimum including secondaries for 2pi incidence is 50 millirads/24 hours with 5 to 8 per cent of this dose produced by high LET components. If life shortening is used as criterion for long-term effects, the quoted exposure corresponds to a factor of 0.2 in the sense that 100 days of exposure would shorten the residual life span by 20 days. (Author).