Human Model Matroshka for Radiation Exposure Determination of Astronauts

01.09.2008 - 30.09.2011
Forschungsförderungsprojekt
The European Space Agency's (ESA) project Matroshka (MTR), dedicated to determining the radiation load on astronauts within and outside the International Space Station (ISS), was launched in January 2004 and is currently in its third experimental phase. MTR, which mimics a human head and torso, is an anthropomorphic phantom containing over 6,000 radiation detectors to determine the depth dose and organ dose distribution in the body. MTR is the largest international research initiative ever performed in the field of space dosimetry and combines the expertise of leading research institutions around the world. It consequently generates a huge pool of data of potentially immense value for research. Aiming at optimal scientific exploitation, the collaborative project HAMLET will bring together a European expert committee, consisting exclusively of members of the MTR consortium, to process and compile the data acquired individually, partly under national funding by the participating laboratories. Based on experimental input as well as on radiation transport calculations, a three-dimensional model for the distribution of radiation dose in an astronaut's body will be built up. The results describe the exposure conditions both for extra-vehicular activities (MTR-1, 2004-2005) and inside the ISS (MTR-2A/B, 2006-2008). The project will go beyond essential data analysis and incorporate a modelling approach to guide new experimental measurements and strengthen the predictive capacity. This will allow for further utilization of the data, particularly with respect to detailed modelling of radiation interactions in the human body. The scientific achievements contribute essentially to radiation risk estimations for future interplanetary space exploration by humans, putting them on a solid experimental and theoretical basis. The synthesis of data, which considerably extends previous knowledge, constitutes a major accomplishment by which Europe can consolidate worldwide leadership in this special branch of space radiation research. Maximum public outreach shall be assured by making the carefully processed data and related reports directly available to the scientific community and the public via a web-based database.

Personen

Projektleiter_in

Projektmitarbeiter_innen

Institut

Grant funds

  • European Commission (EU) FP7 I.9 COOPERATION Space 7.Rahmenprogramm für Forschung European Commission - Framework Programme European Commission Call identifier FP7-SPACE-2007-1 Application number 218817

Forschungsschwerpunkte

  • Structure-Property Relationsship: 45%
  • Environmental Monitoring and Climate Adaptation: 50%
  • Modeling and Simulation: 5%

Schlagwörter

DeutschEnglisch
Bemannte WeltraumfahrtHuman Spaceflight
ThermolumineszenzThermoluminescence
WeltraumdosimetrieSpace Dosimetry
StrahlungstransportRadiation Transport
StrahlenrisikoRadiation Risk

Externe Partner_innen

  • Magyar Tudományos Akadémia KFKI Atomenergia Kutatóintézet
  • Health Protection Agency
  • Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt
  • Instytut Fizyki Jądrowej im. Henryka Niewodniczańskiego Polskiej Akademii Nauk
  • Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel
  • Chalmers University of Technology

Publikationen