MATROSHKA Austria - Determination of the depth distribution of absorbed dose and average LET in an anthropomorphic phantom at the outer wall of the International Space Station ISS

01.04.2004 - 30.09.2006
Assigned research project
The European Space Agency (ESA) Matroshka experiment was launched to the International Space Station (ISS) with a Russian Progress freighter on January 29, 2004. Co-operation of 15 laboratories around the world makes it the most extensive research effort in radiation dosimetry ever preformed in space. The facility is aimed to simulate an astronaut¿s body during an extravehicular activity. Matroshka basically consists of a human phantom torso attached to a base structure and covered with a protective carbon fibre container which acts as a space suit simulation. The phantom is divided into 33 tissue-equivalent polyurethane slices of specific density for tissue and organs. Natural bones are embedded. Channels and cut-outs enable accommodation of active and passive radiation monitors as well as temperature and pressure sensors. In total, the phantom houses 7 active instruments and over 6000 passive detectors of which the Atomic Institute of the Austrian Universities provides more than 1000 thermoluminescence dosimeter crystals for dose measurements with high spatial resolution and estimation of the biological effectiveness of the radiation field. Matroshka was mounted outside the Russian Segment on February 26, 2004, and recovered on August 18, 2005. During that 18-month exposure period, the integrated radiation detectors measured distributions of particle fluence, energy spectra and accumulated doses within the anthropomorphic phantom body, particularly in identified radiosensitive organs and tissues. The results are expected to contribute essentially to reliable radiation risk estimations of astronaut crew.

People

Project leader

Sub project leader

Project personnel

Institute

Contract/collaboration

  • Planai Hochwurzenbahnen Gmbh

Keywords

GermanEnglish
Internationale Raumstation (ISS)International Space Station (ISS)
Lebenswissenschaften im WeltraumLife sciences in space
StrahlenrisikoRadiation Risk
StrahlenschutzHealth physics
ThermolumineszenzThermoluminescence
Dosimetrie kosmischer StrahlungCosmic-ray dosimetry

External partner

  • Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt
  • ESA / ESTEC

Publications