The radiation protection problems of high altitude and space flight

Conference · Thu Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1993

OSTI ID:10134371

Fry, R J.M.

This paper considers the radiation environment in aircraft at high altitudes and spacecraft in low earth orbit and in deep space and the factors that influence the dose equivalents. Altitude, latitude and solar cycle are the major influences for flights below the radiation belts. In deep space, solar cycle and the occurrence of solar particle events are the factors of influence. The major radiation effects of concern are cancer and infertility in males. In high altitude aircraft the radiation consists mainly of protons and neutrons, with neutrons contributing about half the equivalent dose. The average dose rate at altitudes of transcontinental flights that approach the polar regions are greater by a factor of about 2.5 than on routes at low latitudes. Current estimates of does to air crews suggest they are well within the ICRP (1990) recommended dose limits for radiation workers.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• OSTI ID: 10134371
• Report Number(s): CONF-930181-1; ON: DE93008573
• Resource Relation: Conference: Workshop on radiation protection toward the turn of the century,Paris (France),11-13 Jan 1993; Other Information: PBD: [1993]
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
61 RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
SPACE FLIGHT
RADIATION HAZARDS
INTERPLANETARY SPACE
ORBITS
RADIATION PROTECTION
STERILITY
RADIATION DOSES
NEOPLASMS
DOSE EQUIVALENTS
DOSE RATES
AIRCRAFT
DOSE LIMITS
LEVELS
COSMIC RADIATION
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MAN
RADIATION PROTECTION PROCEDURES