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Experiment Overview


Information provided courtesy of the Erasmus Experiment Archive.
Brief Summary

The main goal of UTBI is the measurement of the background radiation inside spacecraft. Measurements of the X-ray, gamma ray and other particles (protons, neutrons, electrons) have a very important effect outside the Earth's geomagnetic field, which can help in the development of future space vehicles and other space technologies.

Principal Investigator(s)

Andres Russu, Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain

Francesc Monrabal, Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain

Javier Sanchis, Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain

Maria Moreno, Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain

Nuria Escobar, Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain

Rafael Gisbert, Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain

Co-Investigator(s)/Collaborator(s)

Candid Reig, Ph.D., Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain

Ernesto Lopez-Baeza, Ph.D., Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain

Developer(s)

European Space Agency, Education Office, Noordwijk, , Netherlands

Sponsoring Space Agency

European Space Agency (ESA)

Sponsoring Organization

Information Pending

Research Benefits

Information Pending

ISS Expedition Duration

September 2006 - April 2007

Expeditions Assigned

14

Previous ISS Missions

Information Pending

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Experiment Description

Research Overview

• Under The Background Influence (UTBI) is a European Space Agency (ESA) student project. The project was presented, in the scope of the "SUCCESS Student Contest/Special Opportunities" and was selected for implementation onboard the ISS.



• University students created a new detector to measure radiation on board International Space Station (ISS).



• Understanding the effect of radiation on humans is an important factor that must be addressed before planning long duration missions to the Moon and Mars.

Description

During the UTBI (Under The Background Influence) experiment, the background radiation is measured inside the modules of the International Space Station using a new type of radiation sensor. Radiation models, that predict these radiation levels, will be verified and, if necessary, corrected with the experimental data.

The new type of sensor that measures the radiation is made of an alloy of Cadmium, Zinc and Tellurium. The advantage of this specific detector is that it is compact and does not require cryogenic cooling. The UTBI experiment will demonstrate this specific sensor technology for the first time in space and possibly act as a precursor for an instrument of ESA's Atmospheric-Space Interaction Monitor (ASIM), which is planned to be accommodated on an external payload adapter on the outside surface of the European Columbus laboratory once it is launched to the ISS.

Radiation can have severe health consequences for crewmembers. Understanding radiation, its interaction with the ISS and its impact on the human body shall therefore be considered as an important factor that has to be taken into account for longer duration flights around the Earth as well as flights and stays towards and on the Moon and Mars.

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Applications

Space Applications

Information Pending

Earth Applications

Information Pending

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Operations

Operational Requirements

Information Pending

Operational Protocols

Information Pending

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Results/More Information

Information Pending

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Related Websites

The information provided is courtesy of the ESA Astrolab Mission web page.

UTBI: Under The Background Influence

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Imagery

NASA Image: ISSE2952.jpg - Interior of the International Space Station (ISS). This is the environment that UTBI will measure.
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