Earth and space sciences
Experiment BTN-Neutron
Objective:
- Building a physical model for generation of charged and neutral particles during solar flares.
- Developing a physical model of neutron albedo of the earth atmosphere with regard to helio- and geophysical environment, measurement point longitude and altitude effects, time of the day and lighting conditions, atmosphere conditions.
- Developing a physical model of neutron background in the vicinity of the ISS in different flight conditions, as well as recording space gamma bursts.
Tasks:
- Mounting the onboard neutron telescope, cable routing inside and outside the pressurized compartment
and conducting photo (video) imagery of their location during EVA
- Measuring direct and scattered fluxes of high-energy neutrons of solar flares with energies from 10 to 15 MeV.
- Measuring neutrons resulted from nuclear reactions induced by space rays in the earth's upper atmosphere
in the range of thermal (0.001 - 0.1 eV), epithermal (0.1 - 1.0 eV), resonance (1 - 0.3 eV) and fast (0.3 - 15 MeV) energies.
- Measuring gamma radiation in energy ranges between 30 keV to 100 MeV.
Science Hardware Used:
- Electronics unit BTN-ME;
- Spare BTN;
- BTN unit.
Support Items:
- Platform with locks;
- Cable set;
- Cable holder;
- Cable reel with cable.
Expected Results:
Experimental spectrometric investigations of neutron fields on the ISS will allow to
- Clarify the on-orbit radiation environment models;
- Clarify neutron source models in near-earth space environment and evaluate their contribution in
a complete radiation dose received by cosmonauts during EVA;
- Obtain data on high-energy neutron fluxes with energies up to 16 MeV coming from powerful solar
flares with regard to albedo radiation of the earth;
- Build an operational model of neutron background environment on the station;
- Clarify existing solar activity models;
- Obtain data on fluxes of rigid electromagnetic space rays component.
Experiment Results:
- Measurement data on spatial and time distributions of radiation characteristics of space ionizing
radiation (neutron and gamma components) outside the Service Module of the ISS RS;
- Correlation data on radiation environment parameters outside the Service Module of the
ISS RS obtained through calculation with the results of measurements made by science hardware
BTN-M1 and results of other Russian and international experiments;
- Measurement data on solar flare parameters in neutron and gamma range.
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