Radiation Protection Dosimetry (2005), Vol. 116, No. 1–4, pp.

374–379
doi:10.1093/rpd/nci262

SPACE RADIATION MEASUREMENTS ON-BOARD

ISS—THE DOSMAP EXPERIMENT
G. Reitz1,
, R. Beaujean2, E. Benton3, S. Burmeister2, Ts. Dachev4, S. Deme5,
M. Luszik-Bhadra6 and P. Olko7
1
DLR, Aerospace Medicine, 51147 Köln, Germany
2
University Kiel, Extraterrestrik, 24118 Kiel, Germany
3
Eril Research Inc., Richmond, CA 94804-4557, USA
4
Bulgarian Academy of Science, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
5
KFKI Atomic Energy Research Institute, 1525 Budapest, Hungary
6
Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, 38116 Braunschweig, Germany
7
Institute of Nuclear Physics, 31-342 Krakow, Poland

The experiment ‘Dosimetric Mapping’ conducted as part of the science program of NASA’s Human Research Facility (HRF)
between March and August 2001 was designed to measure integrated total absorbed doses (ionising radiation and neutrons),
heavy ion fluxes and its energy, mass and linear energy transfer (LET) spectra, time-dependent count rates of charged
particles and their corresponding dose rates at different locations inside the US Lab at the International Space Station.
Owing to the variety of particles and energies, a dosimetry package consisting of thermoluminescence dosemeter (TLD) chips
and nuclear track detectors with and without converters (NTDPs), a silicon dosimetry telescope (DOSTEL), four mobile
silicon detector units (MDUs) and a TLD reader unit (PILLE) with 12 TLD bulbs as dosemeters was used. Dose rates of the
ionising part of the radiation field measured with TLD bulbs applying the PILLE readout system at different locations varied
between 153 and 231 lGy d1. The dose rate received by the active devices fits excellent to the TLD measurements and is
significantly lower compared with measurements for the Shuttle (STS) to MIR missions. The comparison of the absorbed
doses from passive and active devices showed an agreement within 10%. The DOSTEL measurements in the HRF location
yielded a mean dose equivalent rate of 535 lSv d1. DOSTEL measurements were also obtained during the Solar Particle
Event on 15 April 2001.

INTRODUCTION are present in the radiation. In orbits between 200

and 600 km, the main absorbed dose inside the space-
Risks from radiation exposures in space activities
craft is contributed by the protons of the South
cannot be eliminated and are treated as an occupa-
Atlantic Anomaly (SAA), an area where the radiation
tional hazard. Legal, moral and practical consider-
belt comes closer to the earth surface owing to a
ations are required to prevent the risk of acute
displacement of the magnetic dipole axes from the
exposure and to limit the risk of late effects. The
earth’s centre. Outside the spacecraft, the dose is
assessment of the level of risk, the determination
dominated by the electrons of the horns of the radi-
of the cancer types and the probability of their
ation belts located at 60 latitude in the polar
induction during a specific mission and the effects
regions. The particle fluence rates are modulated by
of radiation on long-term life support systems is an
the solar cycle. With increasing solar activity the pro-
inevitable task. Therefore, for this, accurate know-
ton fluence rate in the belts decreases, and the electron
ledge of the physical characteristics of the radiation
fluence rate increases and vice versa. The galactic
field is needed.
cosmic ray (GCR) fluence rate varies up to a factor
Although considerable dosimetric data have been
of 3–4 with the solar cycle. It is the highest at
accumulated from several spaceflight experiments(1,2),
minimum solar activity and nearly independent of
it is not yet possible to provide a quantitative descrip-
the altitude in the above-mentioned region, but it
tion of the radiation field, especially at the edge of the
strongly depends on the orbit inclination. The fluence
radiation belt, because of its highly complex composi-
rate of GCRs increases, therefore, from low to high
tion with respect to the particles present and their
latitudes. Only GCR particles of very high energies
energy spectra. The radiation field in near earth
are able to penetrate the magnetic field to low latit-
orbit is composed of electromagnetic radiation and
udes. Although the GCR flux is omni directional, the
charged particles of solar and galactic origins, as well
particle flux inside the SAA is directional.
as of neutrons produced by interactions of the prim-
The complexity of the radiation field inside a
ary galactic radiation with the earth’s atmosphere.
spacecraft is further increased through the interac-
Photons and particles with energies up to 1018 eV
tion of the high-energy components with the space-
craft shielding material and with the body of the


Corresponding author: [Link]@[Link] astronauts.

Ó The Author 2005. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: [Link]@[Link]
 ISS RADIATION MEASUREMENTS
The experiment ‘Dosimetric Mapping’ gives data are integrated over periods of half-orbits on the
on the particle and the dose distribution in two hab- northern and the southern hemisphere separately.
itable areas of the ISS, the US Lab and Node 1, These time intervals for the LET spectra are defined
which is directly attached to the Lab. The different by the count rate minimum at crossings of the mag-
systems allow the first inflight cross calibration of netic equator. Periods with particle rates exceeding
measurements at the same shielding configurations. a given threshold are regarded as crossings of the
This is absolutely necessary as the comparison of SAA and treated separately. The particle and dose
so far available data is often not possible due to rates are then registered every 20 s and a separate
the limited knowledge of the angular response of LET spectrum is integrated for this crossing of the
the detector systems combined with unknown angu- radiation belt.
lar incidence of radiations and only approximate The mobile silicon detector units (MDUs)
knowledge of shielding distributions. consist of four miniature dosemeters containing a
single silicon detector, a charge sensitive preampli-
fier, a micro controller, a flash memory and lithium
MATERIALS AND METHODS
ion cells(5). The interface to the Human Research
Each of the five NTDPs consists mainly of a detector Facility (HRF) is the control and the interface unit
stack (813820 mm3) composed of several plastic (CIU), a metal box that contains a power supply
detector layers, each with a thickness between 0.1 for recharging the MDUs and a data interface.
and 0.6 mm. Two stacks contain in addition a per- After 5 d, data from the flash memory has to be
sonal neutron dosemeter(3), which contains one transferred via the CIU to the on-board data storage
CR-39 nuclear track detector covered by a thin system. Similar to the DOSTEL instrument, MDUs
Makrofol foil (2 mm thickness), boron converters provide the flux of charged particles and the corres-
with high 10B content (BE10, Kodak) and an alu- ponding dose rate as a function of time. The MDUs
minised plastic foil (40 mm polyethylene and 70 mm are distributed at locations of different shieldings
aluminium). Chips of lithium fluoride (LiF) TLDs, inside the spacecraft.
each about 3.23.20.9 mm3 in size, arranged in The measurement set is completed by the TLD
monolayers and welded between two polyethylene reader PILLE for the study of spatial distribution
foils, were placed at the top and the bottom of the and time dependence of absorbed doses(6). The ther-
detector stacks. moluminescence material CaSO4:Dy is encapsulated
Detector types 7LiF:Mg,Cu,P (MCP-7) (7Li- in an evacuated quartz bulb. For on-board readings,
enriched) and natLiF:Mg,Cu,P (MCP-N) (natural the bulb (mounted in a pen-like holder) is put into
Li) were used by INP, whereas Harshaw brands the light-proof compartment of the reader. The bulb
TLD600H, TLD700H, TLD700 and TLD600 were holder is equipped with three mutually orthogonal
used in DLR for absorbed dose measurements con- stacks of CR-39 detectors.
tributed by the ionising part of the radiation field. The nuclear track detector allyl diglycol carbonate
The neutron doses are determined from count rates (CR-39), covering the range of energy loss from 10
of electrochemically etched CR-39 plates by two to 2000 keV mm1 in water, was used to measure
methods: one relies mainly on proton recoil tracks the flux of heavy charged particles. Tracks were
and the other on the neutron-induced reactions produced by chemical etching in a solution of
on 10B. 6.25 N NaOH at 50 C, the track ellipse data were
DOSTEL delivers time-resolved particle count used to generate LET spectra(7).
and dose rates, as well as linear energy transfer The experiment was performed during increment
(LET) spectra separately for the contribution of two of the ISS from 8 March 2001 to 22 August
the trapped particles in the radiation belt and the 2001. DOSTEL was launched together with the TLD
GCRs. The DOSTEL detector section is based on reader on 8 March and activated on 26 March. Data
two identical silicon detectors of 315 mm thickness were downloaded to the HRF PC every 10 d. On
and 6.93 cm2 sensitive area each(4). The distance of 19 April, the passive experiments together with the
15 mm between the two detectors yields an opening MDUs were brought to the ISS. MDUs and the
angle of 120 and a geometric factor of 8.24 cm2 sr. TLD reader were activated on 5 May. Data collected
Once every 10 d, data download through a RS232 from the TLD bulbs by the TLD reader were down-
interface is required. The instrument measures loaded to the HRF PC every 7–10 d, and data col-
the time profile of dose rate and particle rate as lected from the MDUs were downloaded to the
well as LET spectra in the LET range from 0.1 to HRF PC every 5 d. At the same time intervals the
200 keV mm1 in water. For the dose measurement, MDUs were recharged. The passive detectors were
counts with an LET > 200 keV mm1 are treated as stored for 126 d on-board ISS. From 3 May to
LET ¼ 200 keV mm1. During the orbit, dose rate 9 August (100 d), the dosemeters were exposed inside
and particle rate are registered every 90 s, while LET the US Lab in eight locations and in Node 1 in five
spectra from coincident events in both detectors locations.
375
 G. REITZ ET AL.
For the different TLD systems, calibration was (high-magnetic cutoff ) and reaches maximum values
performed in terms of kerma in air using 137Cs every 45 min at highest latitudes (low-magnetic cut-
gamma rays. The numbers given in this report are off ) on the northern and the southern hemisphere,
converted to Gy in water. CR-39 was calibrated respectively. In connection with the Earth’s rotation,
using 12 ion/energy combinations at the heavy the high latitude regions of the orbit are reached at
ion accelerators HIMAC, Chiba and AGS, and different longitudes, which causes an additional
Brookhaven. All detectors were exposed in air. daily variation of the fluence at highest latitudes.
DOSTEL was calibrated using carbon and iron Shortly before the particles of the SPE are
ions at 400 MeV per a.m.u. at HIMAC and 241Am showing up, we observe a larger particle fluence in
alpha particles; the MDUs used protons of different the higher latitude regions (between days 105 and
energies, and carbon and neon ions of 400 MeV per 105.25), which might be owing to disturbances in
a.m.u. Detailed data on the heavy ion calibrations the magnetosphere causing higher electron flux. At
can be found in the first ICCHIBAN report issued the onset of the event, the ISS was in lower latitude
in 2004(8). regions where magnetic shielding is higher. The
peaks in the fluxes seen at the same time the onset
occurs are not due to the SPE, but due to SAA
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
crossings. The increase in particle fluxes is first seen
Figure 1 shows the measured DOSTEL count rates in the southern high latitude region; later on, the
between days 104.5 and 106.5 of the year 2001. The SPE particles show up in the northern latitudes
lower panel of Figure 1 gives the particle count rates as well.
of the Energetic Particle Sensor of the US Geosta- Table 1 shows the variation of dose rates at spe-
tionary Weather Satellite (GOES) that is located cific locations at a selected time in the US Lab pro-
outside the magnetosphere indicating a strong solar vided by TLD bulb measurements. The range from
particle event (SPE) coming up on 15 April. Looking 153 to 231 mGy d1 is caused by different shielding
at the first part of the figure, where no increased thicknesses in the selected positions. The neutron
solar activity is observed, the variation of the count dose arrives at a mean value of 28  5 mSv d1
rates is due to the spacecraft travelling through based on proton recoil track measurements and at
different magnetic cut-off conditions during the 23  8 mSv d1 based on track counts of neutron-
orbit and the crossings of the radiation belts in the induced reactions on 10B, which is quite a good
SAA, which produce pronounced peaks in count agreement taking into account the uncertainties
and dose rates. Outside the SAA, the measured and limitations of both methods inside the space
count rate drops to the minimum at the equator radiation field.

100
DOSTEL
count rate
10
2
1 / s cm

0.1
104.50 104.75 105.00 105.25 105.50 105.75 106.00 106.25 106.50
th th
15 April 16 April
DoY 2001
3
10
2 GOES8 Proton Flux
10
1 / cm s sr

1 >= 100MeV
10
2

0
10
-1
10
-2
10
104.50 104.75 105.00 105.25 105.50 105.75 106.00 106.25 106.50

Figure 1. DOSTEL particle count rates for quiet solar conditions and during the 16 April solar particle event. At the
x-axes the day of year (DoY) of 2001 is plotted. The lower curve gives the count rates for solar particles measured by
GOES. The strong increase in solar particles on day 105 indicates a solar particle event.

376
 ISS RADIATION MEASUREMENTS
Table 1. Average dose rates measured at locations with different shielding in the US Lab and Node 1 of the ISS with TLD
bulbs.

A0102 A0103 A0104 A0105 A0106 A0107 A0108 A0109 A0110 A0111 A0112

231 171 153 182 156 161 166 170 165 175 153

The upper line is the TLD bulb unit number; the lower line gives the dose rate in mGy d1

300

280 Average dose rate SAA

Average dose rate GCR
260 Avarage total dose rate
240
Dose rate (µGy/d)

220

200

180

160

140

120

100

80

60
60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200

Day of Year 2001

Figure 2. Dose rate for GCRs, for the trapped radiation in the SAA and the sum of both contributions measured using
DOSTEL in dependence of mission time.

For the variation of dose rates during the mission Table 2. Comparison of dose rates as recorded by the
a plot of the DOSTEL data were used, since different instruments: comparison of DOSTEL, MDU 2 and
DOSTEL provides the dose rate separated for the TLD bulb readouts in selected periods of the mission.
radiation belt contribution and the galactic contri-
bution (Figure 2). The data show clearly the Instrument Dose rate (mGy d1)
dependence of dose rates from the altitude ranging
from 386 to 404 km. There are some disturbances in 29 June–2 July 2001 14 July–17 July 2001
this dependence. As an example, the increase in the
GCR dose rate for the second measuring interval TLD A0103 161 168
(2nd data point) is caused by an altitude change of Liulin 178 185
DOSTEL 187 182
the ISS that causes the shuttle docking. Measuring
point three covers the shuttle presence providing
Dose conversion factor of 1.14 was used for the TLDs and
higher mass shielding.
1.23 for the silicon detectors to calculate the absorbed dose
Tables 2 and 3 gives an indication on the confid- from air kerma and dose in Si, respectively
ence of the data. The measurements of the different
devices are compared and it shows a good agree-
ment. The TLD700H and MCP-7 type have almost excellently together. The same is true closely for the
the same radiation sensitivity, but a lower sensitivity active devices. Figure 3 demonstrates a good agree-
in the high-LET radiation region compared with ment of the LET spectra of GCRs measured with the
the other types(8). The data are within 10% and fit DOSTEL instrument and with CR-39.

377
 G. REITZ ET AL.
Dose equivalents were calculated from the meas- data, and data from the NASA tissue-equivalent
urements using the quality factor (Q) as defined in proportional counter (TEPC)(11). The lower dose
the ICRP Report No. 60(9). Table 4 lists the dose equivalents seen for the ISS are due to less solar
equivalents determined for Shuttle to MIR missions activity during the measurement period and higher
(DOSTEL measurements)(10) and for the ISS shielding thickness provided by the ISS. The dose
using DOSTEL data, combined CR-39 and TLD equivalents calculated based on the measurements of
the different systems differ considerably. The dose
equivalent from the combined CR-39/TLD system is
Table 3. Comparison of mean dose rates measured by smaller than the TEPC dose equivalents and much
passive devices. lower than that of DOSTEL. One would expect a
better agreement with the DOSTEL data, since both
Instrument Groups/detector type Total dose (mGy d1) the TLD dose rates and the CR-39 LET spectra of
the CR-39/TLD system agree well with the DOSTEL
NTDP1 INP MCP-7 156  2 measurements. TEPC dose equivalents should be
DLR 700H 150  3 even higher as such from DOSTEL, since the TEPC
KFKI A0103 171  1 measurements cover a considerable part of the neut-
DLR700 168  3 ron contribution. Until now, these discrepancies are
NTDP2 INP MCP-7 167  2 not understood. Probably, a number of factors, such
DLR 700H 161  5 as different shielding distributions even over short
DLR700 175  4 distances and actual orientations of the instruments,
NTDP3 INP MCP-7 185  5 contribute to the differences observed. Adding the
DLR 700H 182  2 neutron dose from the personal dosemeter to the
DLR700 197  4 numbers given in Table 4, the dose equivalent
NTDP4 INP MCP-7 185  5 would increase by 33 mSv d1.
KFKI A0102 231  2
DLR700 216  6
CONCLUSION
NTDP5 INP MCP-7 155  3
KFKI A0107 161  1 The DOSMAP experiment was the first effort to
DLR700 165  3 map dose and dose equivalent as a function of the
location in the US Lab and in Node 1 of the ISS.
Dose conversion factor of 1.14 was used for the TLDs to A quite large set of data has been produced by the
calculate the absorbed dose from air kerma ‘Dosimetric Mapping’ experiment from which only a

1
10
0
10
-1 DOSTEL
N(LET)/cm s sr keV / µm

10
PNTD A0103
-2
10
-3
10
2

-4
10
-5
10
-6
10
-7
10
-8
10 -1 0 1 2 3
10 10 10 10 10
keV / µm
Figure 3. Comparison of measured LET spectra from DOSTEL and CR-39 nuclear track detectors.

378
 ISS RADIATION MEASUREMENTS
Table 4. Comparison of dose rates and dose equivalent rates of Shuttle to MIR missions with those of ISS.

Total average GCR average SAA average

mGy d1 Q mSv d1 mGy d1 Q mSv d1 mGy d1 Q mSv d1

STS76 298 1.9 566 131 2.8 366 167 1.2 200
STS81 299 2.0 610 126 3.2 403 173 1.2 208
STS84 338 2.0 662 122 3.3 403 215 1.2 258
ISS (DOSTEL) 194 2.8 535 92 4.4 409 102 1.2 126
ISS (CR-39þTLD)a 197 2.1 413
ISS (TEPC) 165 2.8 467 91 3.7 337 74 1.8 130

STS76 was flown in March 1996, STS81 in January 1997 and STS84 in May 1997. On all three missions the orbit inclination
was 51.5 at an altitude of 380 km
a
Upper values of measurements

part could be presented in this paper. Using a fully MIR Orbital Station. Radiat. Meas. 35, 393–422
developed 3-D ray tracing model of the ISS, the (2002).
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It could be shown that for the different shielding and Schuhmacher, H. Personal neutron dosimetry in the
space station MIR and the space shuttle. Radiat. Meas.
locations the difference between the lowest and the
31, 425–430 (1999).
highest average dose rates was 50% and that the 4. Beaujean, R., Kopp, J. and Reitz, G. Active dosimetry
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30%. The determination of dose equivalents still 223–226 (1999).
needs some improvement, since the difference in the 5. Dachev, Ts. et al. Calibration results obtained with
obtained values cannot be explained sufficiently. Liulin-4 type dosimeters. Adv. Space Res. 30(4),
Further investigations are needed to close this gap 917–925 (2002).
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plex and dynamic, measurements across the space Hejja, I. An on-board TLD system for dose monitoring
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mass shielding, leading to attenuation, build-up and in low-earth orbit. Thesis, National University of
and/or activation. Ireland, May (2004).
8. Uchihori, Y. and Benton, E. R. Results from the first
two intercomparison of dosimetric instruments for
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Cosmic radiation with heavy ions beams at NIRS
(ICCHIBAN 1 & 2) experiments. HIMAC-078 Report
The work at Kiel University was financially suppor- (National Institute of Radiobiological Sciences, Chiba
ted by DLR Bonn under grant 50 WB 9906. 263–8555, Japan), February (2004).
9. International Commission on Radiological Protection.
Recommendations of the International Commission on
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