Automated Radiation Measurements for Aerospace Safety - Dual Monitor (ARMAS-DM)

This Automated Radiation Measurements for Aerospace Safety Dual Monitor (ARMAS DM) Phase II proposal addresses these engineering and science goals:i)be the first demonstration of a real-time COTS-based technology for regional ionizing-radiation monitoring at high altitudes using a long-duration balloon;ii)be a game-changing technology for global aviation safety;iii)aid human space exploration by helping specify the radiation environment consistently from the surface to high altitudes, i.e., a space tourism and avionics safety need;iv)provide observations for assimilation into the NASANAIRASradiation model now being applied to the International Space Station (ISS) radiation safety protocol; andv)enable a better understanding of the dynamic and variable radiation environment due to all sources by measuring both total ionizing dose and gamma-rays. Minimum success criteria have been defined for Phase II as continuous flight measurements of ARMAS dose for at least 2 weeks in the lower stratosphere below the Pfotzer-Regener maximum, in western North American longitudes, and with magnetic latitudes greater than 39 deg. ARMAS DM will use one World View Enterprises Stratollite balloon to host two radiation detection instruments. First, the ARMAS FM5 detector will be used to observe total ionizing dose from all sources and report it 24/7 real-time for the duration of the mission via Iridium satellite link. FM5 will fulfill the technology objective of this proposed work: show a pathway that demonstrates an ability to monitor the radiation environment for aerospace safety. Second, the GAMMA-RAD5 detector will be used for measuring gamma-rays and, with the FM5, will satisfy the basic science objective, i.e., identifyvariable gamma-rays above the GCR background as the potential source for shallow tissue cancers in crew and passengers. These two instruments will fulfill our mission success criteria forboth a technology demonstration and enhanced science objectives. The ARMAS DM project is a technology demonstration showing a pathway that identifies space weather radiation risks at aviation altitudes, and completes the third of four steps to enable operational aviation radiation monitoring Steps 1 and 2 have mostly been accomplished: discover the risk using measurements and develop/validate models with observational data The focus of this proposal is Step 3: demonstrate monitoring of the radiation environment Step 4 is still to be developed: aviation radiation specification with nowcasts and forecasts using physics-based data assimilative modeling as well as ensemble modeling that quantifies uncertainty ARMAS DM directly supports a successful conclusion to Step 3 (monitoring) and lays the basis for data assimilative nowcasting and forecasting of the aviation radiation environment Main objectives of the work Tech demo 30-day radiation monitoring capability for aviation Understand how gamma-rays may contribute to overall exposure risk compared to the background GCR radiation environment Work plan Prepare two-instrument payload (FM5 and G-RAD5) Conduct 30-day balloon flight with real-time data retrieval Recover balloon payload, process and analyze the G-RAD5 data Proposed deliverables Tech demo a prototype radiation monitoring system Final report on technology for monitoring system and science knowledge gained
Benefits: This proposal supports NASA’s Grand Challenges for technological solutions that radically improve existing capabilities. A successful long duration radiation observation demonstration that identifies dynamic radiation will enable a system-level method for operational monitoring. It will provide data for assimilation into NASA’s NAIRAS model. Beneficiaries include air and space traffic management, which will require future predictive capabilities that are only possible with physics-based, data assimilative system such as NAIRAS plus ARMAS. Astronauts, high-altitude pilots, frequent commercial flyers, and commercial space travelers will be able to obtain real-time radiation weather information for a small incremental cost. Using operational monitoring plus data assimilation, the information from our aviation radiation monitoring system can be integrated into global operational air and space traffic infrastructures for risk reduction.