Radiation 



environment, the radiation environment inside the spacecraft, and 

 accelerator-based experiments is desirable. 



Instrumentation and Measurement of the 

 Space Radiation Environment 



Findings 



• Improvements are needed in both passive dosimeters (devices that measure 

 cumulative exposure and are processed at intervals) and real-time dosimeters 

 (devices that provide automated and continuous measurements of radiation). 

 The development of appropriate biological dosimeters (a system that measures 

 a change in a biological endpoint) is also an important priority. 



• An effort needs to be made to measure accurately the free-space radiation 

 environment, so that uncertainties in measurements behind shielding can be 

 removed and the data can be applied to arbitrary shielding situations. 



• The space radiation environment beyond the Earth's geomagnetic shielding 

 needs to be characterized further, as does the electron flux in GEO. 



Recommendation 



• NASA needs to support basic research in instrumentation and measurement 

 of the space radiation environment. 



Research Support 



Findings 



• NASA's interest in radiobiological issues has become focused over the years, 

 and it is clear that there are some overriding issues in which the Agency has 

 considerable stake. 



• NASA has no focused program on the biological effects of radiation, but there 

 are unresolved issues in this field critical to the success of the Agency's current 

 and future missions. 



Recommenda tions 



• NASA should make a commitment to support fundamental research on the 

 biological effects of radiation. This support and commitment should take the 

 form of expanding NASA's role in and funding for basic research and of 

 contributing to the necessary facilities, such as the Bevalac accelerator. 



• NASA should continue to function as focal point for the wide range of 

 radiobiological research activities relevant to its needs. To maintain its 

 leadership role, the Agency should encourage collaborative efforts with other 

 organizations and agencies interested in similar areas of research, including 

 the Department of Defense, the National Institutes of Health, and the 

 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 



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