NASA - Miniaturized Particle Telescope

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Miniaturized Particle Telescope (Miniaturized Particle Telescope) - 05.30.18

ISS Science for Everyone

Science Objectives for Everyone
The Miniaturized Particle Telescope (MPT) is a two-element radiation detector that builds on the Radiation Environment Monitor (REM)/Timepix technology. REM units are already being flown as a technology demonstration on the International Space Station (ISS). The entire detector assembly is roughly the size of the palm of your hand. All power/data is done through two USB connections directly to a laptop. The MPT is a Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) product, manufactured by Advacam. Timepix detectors are USB-powered particle trackers based on Medipix technology developed at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN).

Science Results for Everyone
Information Pending

The following content was provided by Dan Fry, SRAG, and is maintained in a database by the ISS Program Science Office.

Experiment Details

OpNom: Miniaturized Particle Telescope

Principal Investigator(s)
Dan Fry, SRAG, JSC, Houston, TX, United States

Co-Investigator(s)/Collaborator(s)
Information Pending

Developer(s)
Wyle, Integrated Science and Engineering, Houston, TX, United States

Sponsoring Space Agency
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Sponsoring Organization
Technology Demonstration Office (TDO)

Research Benefits
Space Exploration

ISS Expedition Duration
April 2017 - August 2018; -

Expeditions Assigned
51/52,53/54,55/56,57/58

Previous Missions
Information Pending

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Experiment Description

Research Overview
The goal of the Miniaturized Particle Telescope (MPT) project is to demo the capability of determining the directional characteristics of charged particle energy spectra in space. Specifically, this project shall procure, ground test, and deploy (on the ISS) a two-sensor TimePix detector capable of detecting protons and higher Z ions at energies from a few to >100 MeV/n; and measuring the angular dependence of detected ions.

Description
The Miniaturized Particle Telescope (MPT) records frames of particle tracks to the SSC laptop via the REM/MRT SSC software and uses REM software already loaded on SSC. MPT improves current TimePix capability Detection of protons and higher-Z ions from a few to >100 MeV/n. The telescope resolves ion energy within a minimum of 6 bins (ground processing) and determines particle track through both sensors (ground processing). The flux spectrum within angular resolution is determined by acceptance angle of stack.

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Applications

Space Applications
Miniaturized Particle Telescope technology may be used for future Exploration missions and vehicles.

Earth Applications
The Miniaturized Particle Telescope helps monitor and determine space radiation environment effects (exposure to ionizing radiation) on humans.

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Operations

Operational Requirements and Protocols

The MPT operates in an identical manner as the current REM units on-board ISS. Data are downlinked daily. The detector uses the same software that is currently running the ISS REM units on the SSC. Specifically, the unit is operated as follows:

Two sensors operate synchronously.
The unit must be powered by USB connection and transfer frames to laptop for storage.
Software captures and writes frames to file. No onboard analysis is required by the software.
The unit can be tethered to laptop via USB cable.

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Decadal Survey Recommendations

Information Pending

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Results/More Information

Information Pending

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Related Websites

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Imagery