The Small Mixed Field Autonomous Radiation Tracker (SMART) Dosimeter

Active dosimeters for astronauts and space weather monitors are critical tools for mitigating radiation induced health issues or system failure on capital equipment. Commercial spaceflight, deep space flight, and satellites require smarter, smaller, and lower power dosimeters. There are a number of instruments with flight heritage, yet as identified in NASA's roadmaps, this technology does not lend itself to a viable solution for active dosimetry for an astronaut, particularly for deep space missions. The proposed solution is an instrument that will provide dose distinguished by the type of particle, where tissue or physical damage is dependent on the energy and mass of the radiation. This is accomplished by advancing technologies developed by RMD and COSMIAC that will provide a comprehensive assessment of the radiation environment, as the instrument determines the dose for different particle species. Using RMD's advanced scintillation materials, low-power digitizers, and COSMIAC's digital signal processing, a compact dosimeter will be developed for intravehicular and extravehicular activates, as well as a space weather monitor for satellites.

Under the existing 2015 NASA Technology roadmap for Human Health, Life Support and Habitation Systems, real time dosimeters are explicitly needed for intravehicular and extravehicular activities. The existing systems consume too much power or are too bulky. The proposed solution will solve those issues while providing dosimetry for protons, electrons, neutrons, and other heavier charged ions. The primary target are crewed missions for the lunar surface, Mars orbit and surface.

Radiation dosimeters are in general demand for commercial applications, such as personnel, waste monitoring, hospitals, nuclear power industry, national laboratories and industrial research. This technology can be used in commercial satellites for monitoring the space weather conditions and provide a warning system for ground-based equipment. As high altitude commercial flights become more prevalent, active dosimeters can provide the redundant safeguards and information required to protect companies from unnecessary litigation and passengers from hazardous radiation conditions.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 4) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

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