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LT RBR: Long Term Radiation Belt Remediation Joshua Davis ASTE 527 Space Concepts Studio Slide 2 LT RBR: RBR means removing the trapped electrons and ions from the near Earth environment for the benefit of manned and unmanned spacecraft. Slide 3 Radiation Environments Impact on Manned Spaceflight A majority of the radiation Astronauts receive on orbit is attributed to the trapped radiation particles in the inner Van Allen belt. Time on orbit is limited by an Astronauts total radiation exposure, limiting the ability to study long term micro-gravity effects on Humans. Radiation dosage on the ISS is roughly 4 orders of magnitude higher than at Sea Level. Temporary and permanent eye damage. Increased risk of cancers. The daily dosage of radiation on the ISS is equal to 8 chest X-rays per day. Increased risk of heart, digestive, and respiratory diseases. Slide 4 Solar array power decrease due to radiation damage Single event effects in microelectronics: bit flips, fatal latch-ups Spacecraft components become radioactive False stars in star tracker CCDs before after Surface degradation from radiation Electronics degrade due to total radiation dose Solar array arc discharge Cryogenic systems experience notable charged particle heating Electromagnetic pulse from vehicle discharge Induced Voltage Time Energetic Particle & Plasma Hazards Slide 5 Arc Discharging Solar Panel Power Decrease Bit Flips / Single Event Upsets Slide 6 Slide 7 Slide 8 Particle Motion in Earths Magnetic Field Slide 9 How RBR Works: Change the particles pitch cone angle such that its velocity vector is pointed roughly parallel to the magnetic field lines. Slide 10 Tethers Unlimited : HiVOLT Slide 11 Neutral Particle Injection Ion-Cyclotron Turbulence Generation Slide 12 VLF: Very Low Frequency Radio Waves Slide 13 Experimental Data for VLF RBR 1100 km alt Slide 14 Issues with RBR Slide 15 Conclusion and Future Work for LT RBR VLF should be further researched as the primary method for LT RBR Feasibility study of Long Term operation of VLF stations Additional study on the effects of RBR on the atmosphere should be conducted Slide 16 References Odenwald, Sten. "What Are Space Radiation Effects?" NASA.. Hess, Wilmot N. "Energetic Particles in the Inner Van Allen Belt." Space Science Reviews 1.2 (1962). Hoyt, Robert P., and Forward, Robert L. "Radiation Remediation." Tethers Unlimited.. Chang, Ouliang. "Numerical Simulation of Ion-Cyclotron Turbulence Generated by Artificial Plasma Cloud Release." Thesis. Virginia Tech, 2009.. Slide 17 References Cont. Papadopoulos, Konstantinos. Et al. "Generation and Evolution of Intense Ion Cyclotron Turbulence by Artificial Plasma Cloud in the Magnetosphere." Journal of Geophysical Research 112 (2007) Gamble, Rory. Et al. "Radiation Belt Electron Precipitation by Man-made VLF Transmissions." Journal of Geophysical Research 113 (2008): American Geophysical Union, 21 Oct. 2008.. Rodger, Craig J. "The Atmospheric Implications of Radiation Belt Remediation." Annales Geophysicae 24 (2006). European Geosciences Union.. Slide 18 Backup Slides Slide 19 Why does the Earth have a Radiation Belt? A Radiation Belt is more stylish than Radiation Suspenders! Slide 20 International Space EPA to study and control RBR practices and take over NOAAs space weather responsibilities.