Study of Cosmic Rays on ISS Russian Segment
Experiment Platan
Objective:
Study of elemental composition and detailed energy
spectra of iron group nuclei in galactic cosmic rays
and ions in solar cosmic rays in the 30-200 MeV/nucleon
energy range. An additional objective is to detect
micro-particles in the vicinity of the space station.
Tasks:
- Installation of Platan-M detector units on the surface of the Zvezda Service Module of the ISS
RS during extravehicular activity, photography of their accommodation on the outer surface of the Service module.
- Long-duration exposure (1-2 years) of the Platan-M detector units on the Service module surface.
- Dismounting of the Platan-M detector units after long-duration exposure from the outer surface of
the Service module during extravehicular activity and their return to the ground for processing of
the experiment results.
Science Hardware Used:
Flight Equipment Used:
- Kodak ESC460c digital camera
to photograph the detector unit at the location
to reference its position to structural elements.
Support Accessories:
Expected Results:
The knowledge of fluxes and energy spectra of the most ionizing component of cosmic rays (iron group
nuclei) during different phases of solar activity in the interests of providing radiation safety and resistance of space hardware.
After return to the ground the exposed detectors (layers of 20-100 mm and 30 mm in total thickness) are subjected
to physico-chemical treatment (ultraviolet radiation, alkali etching), microscopy (measurement of parameters of track
cones and depth of its penetration) to define the particle charge and energy.