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Space Radiation Effects on the Central Nervous System (Alteino)
03.22.12

Overview | Description | Applications | Operations | Results | Publications | Images

Experiment/Payload Overview

Information provided courtesy of the Erasmus Experiment Archive.
Brief Summary

Information Pending

Principal Investigator

  • Livio Narici, Ph.D., University of Roma Tor Vergata, Rome, , Italy

    • Co-Investigator(s)/Collaborator(s)

  • Marco Casolino, M.D., Universita of Roma Tor Vergata, Rome, , Italy
  • Piergiorgio Picozza, Ph.D., University of Roma Tor Vergata, Rome, , Italy

    • Payload Developer

    Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN), Rome, , Italy

    Sponsoring Space Agency

    European Space Agency (ESA)

    Sponsoring Organization:

    Information Pending

    ISS Expedition Duration:

    December 2001 - June 2002



    Expeditions Assigned

    4

    Previous ISS Missions

    Information Pending

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    Experiment/Payload Description

    Research Summary

    Information Pending

    Description

    This experiment is aimed at: studying cosmic particles in the International Space Station (ISS) as revealed by an Advanced Silicon Telescope (AST) and studying the effects that such particles, and more in general the space environmental conditions, have on cerebral functions as monitored by an advanced electrophysiological recording system [ElectroEncephaloGrapher (EEG)]. In particular the study of Light Flashes (the visual phenomena originated by the interaction of cosmic radiation with the human visual apparatus) will be carried out. The scientific objectives of the program feature therefore two major aspects: radiobiological / Particle physics studies and electrophysiological studies. Alteino is the precursor of ALTEA , which will determine the risk factors linked to cerebral functions during long space missions.

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    Applications

    Space Applications

    Information Pending

    Earth Applications

    Information Pending

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    Operations

    Operational Requirements

    Information Pending

    Operational Protocols

    For the first part of the experiment, the cosmic particle detector (AST) is switched on for the whole duration of the mission to measure angle, charge and energy properties of heavy ions (nuclei) in cosmic radiation. The AST is composed of two scintillators and a series of 8 silicon strip detector planes. The two scintillators are located on top and bottom of the device and are used in coincidence to trigger the acquisition when the device is crossed by a cosmic ray. Each silicon detector plane is divided in 32 strips with a pitch of 0.25 mm to detect nature, energy, and angle of incidence of incoming particles. There are 4 planes with strips oriented in the X direction and 4 planes oriented in the Y direction to provide a stereoscopic view of the track. The acquisition system consists of a PC-104 based 486 CPU with a PCMCIA interface for data storage and download, coupled with an Analogue Devices DSP for the acquisition of the silicon planes. The second part of the experiment consists of the following operations: EEG monitoring of spontaneous or environment-induced changes in the brain functional state (e.g. level of vigilance), both in relation to and independent of the wakefulness/sleep pattern; EEG recording of changes in the brain functional state (e.g. level of vigilance) occurring in concomitance of the observation of phosphenes; identification of EEG functional patterns possibly related to phosphenes; EEG recording of the brain electrophysiological responses to the impact of particles, regardless of reports of subjective phosphenes will be executed. This part of the experiment consists of six Light Flash observations with real time EEG monitoring performed for a total astronaut time of 18 hours and 45 minutes (with an additional 3 hours and 30 minutes of assistance by the station commander). These sessions are selected in order to cover most of the area swept by the ISS to show latitudinal and longitudinal effects related to particle flux and nature.

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    Results/More Information

    Official results have not yet been published. The PI speculates that they will aid in obtaining the data on the radiation safety of cosmonauts during long-duration and long-range missions, as well as the dynamics of their central nervous system functional state and changes in the level of their capacity as operators under these conditions. They will also determine the level of radiation protection in working compartments of ISS RS more precisely.

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    Related Web Sites
  • ESA Erasmus Experiment Archive
  • Sileye/Alteino official site

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    Publications

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    Ground Based Results Publications

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    ISS Patent Publications

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    Related Publications

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    Images

    imageThe Alteino apparatus. Image courtesy of ESA.


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    Information provided by the investigation team to the ISS Program Scientist's Office.
    If updates are needed to the summary please contact JSC-ISS-Program-Science-Group. For other general questions regarding space station research and technology, please feel free to call our help line at 281-244-6187 or e-mail at JSC-ISS-Payloads-Helpline.
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