Calibration and Initial Results of Space Radiation Dosimetry Using the iMESA‐R
Abstract The integrated Miniaturized Electrostatic Analyzer‐Reflight (iMESA‐R) is a space weather instrument designed to measure plasma density, temperature, and spacecraft charging, along with total ionizing dose and dose rate. A constellation consisting of five nearly identical instruments has bee...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2020-08-01
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| Series: | Space Weather |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1029/2020SW002473 |
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| author | C. A. Maldonado R. Cress P. Gresham J. L. Armstrong G. Wilson D. Reisenfeld B. Larsen R. L. Balthazor J. Harley M. G. McHarg |
| author_facet | C. A. Maldonado R. Cress P. Gresham J. L. Armstrong G. Wilson D. Reisenfeld B. Larsen R. L. Balthazor J. Harley M. G. McHarg |
| author_sort | C. A. Maldonado |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The integrated Miniaturized Electrostatic Analyzer‐Reflight (iMESA‐R) is a space weather instrument designed to measure plasma density, temperature, and spacecraft charging, along with total ionizing dose and dose rate. A constellation consisting of five nearly identical instruments has been designed and developed to act as science payloads hosted on‐board Department of Defense satellites operating in low‐Earth orbit. To validate the dosimetry component of the iMESA‐R, a radiation test study was performed to calibrate the dosimeter and ascertain the attenuation due to the instrument aluminum housing. An 80 curie Cobalt‐60 radioisotope source emitting beta, X‐ray, and gamma ray radiation decay products was used to calibrate the dosimeter response as a function of distance and instrument shielding. We present results of the calibration study along with initial on‐orbit data presented from the first operational iMESA‐R hosted on‐board Space Test Program Satellite 5 in a polar Earth orbit. The initial on‐orbit data demonstrate the ability to map the radiation environment, particularly the South Atlantic Anomaly and the auroral regions using total ionizing dose rate due to electrons of E > 1.5 MeV and protons of E > 25 MeV. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4b3dd40ddd4649a6b5708e19ac69b82e |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1542-7390 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2020-08-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Space Weather |
| spelling | doaj-art-4b3dd40ddd4649a6b5708e19ac69b82e2025-01-14T16:27:11ZengWileySpace Weather1542-73902020-08-01188n/an/a10.1029/2020SW002473Calibration and Initial Results of Space Radiation Dosimetry Using the iMESA‐RC. A. Maldonado0R. Cress1P. Gresham2J. L. Armstrong3G. Wilson4D. Reisenfeld5B. Larsen6R. L. Balthazor7J. Harley8M. G. McHarg9Los Alamos National Laboratory Los Alamos NM USADepartment of Physics United States Air Force Academy Colorado Springs CO USADepartment of Physics United States Air Force Academy Colorado Springs CO USADepartment of Physics United States Air Force Academy Colorado Springs CO USADepartment of Physics University of Colorado Colorado Springs Colorado Springs CO USALos Alamos National Laboratory Los Alamos NM USALos Alamos National Laboratory Los Alamos NM USAImprimis Inc. Colorado Springs CO USADepartment of Physics United States Air Force Academy Colorado Springs CO USADepartment of Physics United States Air Force Academy Colorado Springs CO USAAbstract The integrated Miniaturized Electrostatic Analyzer‐Reflight (iMESA‐R) is a space weather instrument designed to measure plasma density, temperature, and spacecraft charging, along with total ionizing dose and dose rate. A constellation consisting of five nearly identical instruments has been designed and developed to act as science payloads hosted on‐board Department of Defense satellites operating in low‐Earth orbit. To validate the dosimetry component of the iMESA‐R, a radiation test study was performed to calibrate the dosimeter and ascertain the attenuation due to the instrument aluminum housing. An 80 curie Cobalt‐60 radioisotope source emitting beta, X‐ray, and gamma ray radiation decay products was used to calibrate the dosimeter response as a function of distance and instrument shielding. We present results of the calibration study along with initial on‐orbit data presented from the first operational iMESA‐R hosted on‐board Space Test Program Satellite 5 in a polar Earth orbit. The initial on‐orbit data demonstrate the ability to map the radiation environment, particularly the South Atlantic Anomaly and the auroral regions using total ionizing dose rate due to electrons of E > 1.5 MeV and protons of E > 25 MeV.https://doi.org/10.1029/2020SW002473radiationdosimeterspace weathersouth Atlantic anomaly |
| spellingShingle | C. A. Maldonado R. Cress P. Gresham J. L. Armstrong G. Wilson D. Reisenfeld B. Larsen R. L. Balthazor J. Harley M. G. McHarg Calibration and Initial Results of Space Radiation Dosimetry Using the iMESA‐R Space Weather radiation dosimeter space weather south Atlantic anomaly |
| title | Calibration and Initial Results of Space Radiation Dosimetry Using the iMESA‐R |
| title_full | Calibration and Initial Results of Space Radiation Dosimetry Using the iMESA‐R |
| title_fullStr | Calibration and Initial Results of Space Radiation Dosimetry Using the iMESA‐R |
| title_full_unstemmed | Calibration and Initial Results of Space Radiation Dosimetry Using the iMESA‐R |
| title_short | Calibration and Initial Results of Space Radiation Dosimetry Using the iMESA‐R |
| title_sort | calibration and initial results of space radiation dosimetry using the imesa r |
| topic | radiation dosimeter space weather south Atlantic anomaly |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1029/2020SW002473 |
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