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Particle Flux Demonstrator (Particle_Flux)
12.05.12

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Overview | Description | Applications | Operations | Results | Publications | Imagery

Experiment Overview

This content was provided by Mark Pearce, and is maintained in a database by the ISS Program Science Office.

Brief Summary

The Particle Flux Demonstrator (Particle Flux) is a handheld, battery operated cosmic ray (charged particle) detector.

Principal Investigator(s)

  • Mark Pearce, Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden

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

  • Donald R. Pettit, Ph.D., Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX, United States
  • Léopold Eyharts, European Space Agency (ESA), Cologne, Germany
  • Donald R. Pettit, Ph.D., Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX, United States
  • Christer Fuglesang, Ph.D., European Astronaut Centre, Köln, Germany
  • Oscar Larsson, M.S., Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
  • Donald R. Pettit, Ph.D., Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX, United States

    • Developer(s)

    Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, , Sweden

    Sponsoring Space Agency

    National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

    Sponsoring Organization

    NASA Education (EDU)

    ISS Expedition Duration:

    October 2007 - May 2012



    Expeditions Assigned

    16,18,19/20,29/30

    Previous ISS Missions

    Information Pending

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    Experiment Description

    Research Overview

    • The Particle Flux Demonstrator (Particle Flux) measures the flow of charged particles (cosmic rays) passing through the International Space Station (ISS). This varies to the greatest degree with the change in the latitude at which the station is flying.


    • On the ISS, the majority of detected particles are protons, but it is possible to select much rarer charged ions as well. The instrument is portable, and it is expected to show the flux variations in different parts of the ISS, depending on the amount of local shielding material there is. The change in flux is also observed with the orbital positions, higher flux at high latitudes and lowers near the equator. In particular the manifold increase when ISS passes through the South Atlantic Anomaly is standing out Particle Flux also shows how these outside variations influence the flux inside.


    • Particle Flux forms part of an educational experiment at high school and university levels. Several education institutions, in Sweden, Norway and Denmark, are taking part in this experiment using cosmic rays detectors to take readings on Earth during the ISS flyovers.

    Description

    The Particle Flux Demonstrator (Particle Flux) is designed for use onboard the International Space Station (ISS). The device is constructed for educational purposes and demonstrates the basic properties of the ionizing radiation environment aboard the ISS. Activities are filmed and included in a media package for high school and university students in Sweden, Norway and Denmark.

    The Particle Flux consists of a vented aluminum cylinder of 9 cm x 20 cm and is designed to be held in the hand. The Particle Flux is supplied with a removable (screw thread) cap which protects the display panel when the Particle Flux is not in use. During operations, the cap is removed and stowed on the opposite end of the Particle Flux using a velcro strip.

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    Applications

    Space Applications

    Information Pending

    Earth Applications

    Information Pending

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    Operations

    Operational Requirements

    Information Pending

    Operational Protocols

    Particle Flux is designed to operate autonomously throughout most of the operations during experiment performance.

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    Results/More Information

    Information Pending

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    Related Websites
  • The information on this page is provided courtesy of the ESA Erasmus Experiment Archive.

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    Imagery

    image Particle Flux, ready for operations. 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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