BIOKIS: A Model Payload for MultidisciplinaryExperiments in Microgravity

In this paper we report about the BIOKIS payload: a multidisciplinary set of experiments and measurements in the fields of Biology (4) and Dosimetry (3) performed in microgravity. BIOKIS took advantage of the last STS-134 Endeavour mission and engineering state of the art in Space Life Science. The BIOKIS payload is compact, efficient, and capable to host experiments with different samples and science disciplines. Moreover, the time overlap of biological experiments and dosimetry measurements will produce more insightful information

Radioprotezione nello spazio: misura di spettri di frammentazione nucleare

La radioprotezione degli astronauti è cruciale per il successo di missioni spaziali di lunga durata come quelle programmate su Marte. La scelta dei materiali per la schermatura della radiazione cosmica va ottimizzata al fine di ridurre il rischio di danno biologico all???equipaggio da essa prodotto. La frammentazione nucleare di ioni di alta energia e alto Z incidenti su tali schermi può infatti modificare la qualità della radiazione. Saranno presentati spettri di frammentazione ottenuti analizzando rivelatori CR-39 esposti a ioni accelerati e schermati con un sistema automatico, sviluppato presso il nostro laboratorio. Particolare cura è stata posta nella misura di coppie di tracce sovrapposte

Spada: a project to study the effectiveness of shielding materials in space

The SPADA (SPAce Dosimetry for Astronauts) project is a part of an extensive teamwork that aims to optimize shielding solutions against space radiation. Shielding is indeed an irreplaceable tool to reduce exposure of crews of future Moon and Mars missions. We concentrated our studies on two flexible materials, Kevlar R� and Nextel R,� because of their ability to protect human space infrastructures from micrometeoroids. We measured radiation hardness of these shielding materials and compared to polyethylene, generally acknowledged as the most effective space radiation shield with practical applications in spacecraft. Both flight test (on the International Space Station and on the Russian FOTON M3 rocket), with passive dosimeters and accelerator-based experiments have been performed. Accelerator tests using high-energy Fe ions have demonstrated that Kevlar is almost as effective as polyethylene in shielding heavy ions, while Nextel is a poor shield against high-charge and -energy particles. Preliminary results from spaceflight, however, show that for the radiation environment in low-Earth orbit, dominated by trapped protons, thin shields of Kevlar and Nextel provide limited reduction

The sileye-altcriss experiment on board the international space station

The Altcriss project was submitted in response to ESA AO-2004. It was approved in March 2005 and begun in December 2005 with Progress 21-P launch from Baikonur. It is currently operating on board the International Space Station, performing a survey of the radiation environment and the effectiveness of shielding materials from cosmic rays. It uses the active silicon detector Sileye-3 and a series of passive dosimeters (CR-39, TLD). The detectors have currently been operational in different location of the Pirs (docking) and Service module of the Russian section of the Station. The project is expected to continue up to 2008