Research Article

Observation of radiation environment in the International Space Station in 2012–March 2013 by Liulin-5 particle telescope

¹ Space Research and Technology Institute, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. G. Bonchev Str. Block 1, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
² State Scientific Center of Russian Federation, Institute of Biomedical Problems, Russian Academy of Sciences, Khoroshevskoye shosse 76a, 123007 Moscow, Russia

^* Corresponding author: jsemkova@stil.bas.bg

Received: 10 October 2013
Accepted: 20 September 2014

Abstract

Since June 2007 the Liulin-5 charged particle telescope, located in the spherical tissue-equivalent phantom of the MATROSHKA-R project onboard the International Space Station (ISS), has been making measurements of the local energetic particle radiation environment. From 27 December 2011 to 09 March 2013 measurements were conducted in and outside the phantom located in the MIM1 module of the ISS. In this paper Liulin-5 dose rates, due to galactic cosmic rays and South Atlantic Anomaly trapped protons, measured during that period are presented. Particularly, dose rates and particle fluxes for the radiation characteristics in the phantom during solar energetic particle (SEP) events occurring in March and May 2012 are discussed. Liulin-5 SEP observations are compared with other ISS data, GOES proton fluxes as well as with solar energetic particle measurements obtained onboard the Mir space station during previous solar cycles.