Development and Exploitation of a Novel Multi-Purpose Particle Detector for Radiation Monitoring in Space Exploration

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Stephan Paul
• Subject Area: Nuclear and Elementary Particle Physics, Quantum Mechanics, Relativity, Fields ; Medical Physics, Biomedical Technology
• Term: from 2018 to 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 414049180

• Final Report Year: 2023

Final Report Abstract

The exposure to cosmic and solar radiation is one of the major challenges in crewed spaceflight, especially for long-term missions beyond Earth orbit. In this project, we developed the RadMap Telescope, a compact yet powerful radiation monitor that combines the capabilities of several current-generation devices and demonstrates a new detector concept that we devised. The instrument currently operates on the International Space Station, rotating through deployment locations in four modules of the station. For reference, it also carries a customized version of the M-42 dosimeter of the German Aerospace Center (DLR), which recently flew to the Moon aboard NASA’s Artemis 1 mission.

Publications

• A new analysis method using Bragg curve spectroscopy for a Multi-purpose Active-target Particle Telescope for radiation monitoring. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, 845, 520-523.
  Losekamm, M.J.; Milde, M.; Pöschl, T.; Greenwald, D. & Paul, S.
  
• Development of the Thermal Control System for the RadMap Telescope Experiment on the International Space Station. In: Proceedings of the 50th International Conference on Environmental Systems, Lisbon, Portugal. Texas Tech University. Handle: ICES-2020-179
  M. Adams, M.J. Losekamm & M. Czupalla
  
• Measurement of ionization quenching in plastic scintillators. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, 988, 164865.
  Pöschl, Thomas; Greenwald, Daniel; Losekamm, Martin J. & Paul, Stephan
  
• The RadMap Telescope on the International Space Station. 2021 IEEE Aerospace Conference (50100), 1-10. IEEE.
  Losekamm, Martin J.; Paul, Stephan; Poschl, Thomas & Zachrau, Hans J.
  
• Measuring Cosmic Rays with the RadMap Telescope on the International Space Station. Proceedings of 38th International Cosmic Ray Conference — PoS(ICRC2023), 099. Sissa Medialab.
  Losekamm, Martin J.; Berger, Thomas; Hinderberger, Peter; Kasemann, Moritz; Kendelbacher, Thomas; Kuehnel, Carl; Marsalek, Karel; Matthiä, Daniel; Meyer-Hetling, Luise; Paul, Stephan; Pöschl, Thomas; Przybyla, Bartos; Rohde, Markus; Rückerl, Sebastian; Wirtz, Michael & Zachrau, Hans J.