The Apollo 17 pocket mouse experiment (Biocore)

Abstract

Results are presented of the Biocore experiment which attempted to assess the degree to which exposure to cosmic ray particle radiation might present a risk to astronauts. Pocket mice, with plastic dosimeters implanted beneath the scalp were flown in a sealed canister. The objective was to determine whether microscopically visible lesions attributable to particle radiation, could be found in brain, eye, and other tissues in these animals. The need for further study is demonstrated.