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Radiation Area Monitor

12.05.12

OpNom:

Facility Overview

This content was provided by Fadi M. Riman, and is maintained in a database by the ISS Program Science Office.

Brief Facility Summary

The Radiation Area Monitor (RAM) is a small set of thermoluminescent detectors encased in Lexan plastic that respond to radiation; the amount of radiation they absorb can be revealed by applying heat and measuring the amount of visible light released. The RAM is used to monitor dose and dose equivalent within the habitable volume of the International space Station (ISS) as a function of location, due to its predicted low sensitivity to high-Linear Energy Transfer radiation (neutrons and alpha particles).

Facility Manager(s)

Fadi M. Riman, Engineering and Science Contract Group, Houston, TX, United States

Co-Facility Manager(s)

Information Pending

Facility Developer(s) Information Pending

Sponsoring Agency

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Expeditions Assigned

2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19/20,21/22

Previous ISS Missions

Information Pending

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Facility Description

Facility Overview

The International Space Station (ISS) Radiation Area Monitor (RAM), monitors the interior ionizing radiation environment of the ISS and telemeters that information at regular intervals to ground teams on Earth.

The solid-state detectors measure radiation dose levels, and information about the directionality and quality of the radiation environment is collected by charged particle spectrometers.

Description

The Radiation Area Monitor (RAM) is a small set of thermoluminescent detectors (TLD) encased in a Lexan holder. The material responds to radiation via electronic excitation states in the various TLD materials. After exposure, the amount of absorbed energy (dose) is determined by applying heat and measuring the amount of visible light released as these excited states are returned to equilibrium. RAMs are placed in throughout the volumes of both the ISS and the Space Shuttle. The ISS monitors are swapped out during the periodic Shuttle missions.

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Operations

Facility Operations

RAMs are attached to structures distributed throughout the ISS (4-6/module; 2-4/node). Data are stored and analyzed postflight to determine ISS radiation levels.