The ALTCRISS project on board the International Space Station

TL;DR

The ALTCRISS project conducts a comprehensive, long-term survey of cosmic radiation on the ISS, analyzing how shielding and station orientation affect particle composition and fluence using advanced detectors and passive dosimeters.

Contribution

It provides detailed measurements of radiation environment variations on the ISS, including effects of shielding and station attitude, using a combination of active and passive detection methods.

Findings

Variation in particle fluence due to shielding material

Identification of nuclei up to Iron above 60 MeV/n

Assessment of shielding effectiveness on cosmic radiation

Abstract

The Altcriss project aims to perform a long term survey of the radiation environment on board the International Space Station. Measurements are being performed with active and passive devices in different locations and orientations of the Russian segment of the station. The goal is to perform a detailed evaluation of the differences in particle fluence and nuclear composition due to different shielding material and attitude of the station. The Sileye-3/Alteino detector is used to identify nuclei up to Iron in the energy range above 60 MeV/n. Several passive dosimeters (TLDs, CR39) are also placed in the same location of Sileye-3 detector. Polyethylene shielding is periodically interposed in front of the detectors to evaluate the effectiveness of shielding on the nuclear component of the cosmic radiation. The project was submitted to ESA in reply to the AO in the Life and Physical Science of 2004 and data taking began in December 2005. Dosimeters and data cards are rotated every six months: up to now three launches of dosimeters and data cards have been performed and have been returned with the end of expedition 12 and 13.