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NASA NTRS · 20040089396

Induced radioactivity of LDEF materials and structural components

Harmon, B. A.·Laird, C. E.·Fishman, G. J.·Parnell, T. A.·Camp, D. C.·Frederick, C. E.·Hurley, D. L.·Lindstrom, D. J.·Moss, C. E.·Reedy, R. C.·Reeves, J. H.·Smith, A. R.·Winn, W. G.·Benton, E. V.
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Abstract

We present an overview of the Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) induced activation measurements. The LDEF, which was gravity-gradient stabilized, was exposed to the low Earth orbit (LEO) radiation environment over a 5.8 year period. Retrieved activation samples and structural components from the spacecraft were analyzed with low and ultra-low background HPGe gamma spectrometry at several national facilities. This allowed a very sensitive measurement of long-lived radionuclides produced by proton- and neutron-induced reactions in the time-dependent, non-isotropic LEO environment. A summary of major findings from this study is given that consists of directionally dependent activation, depth profiles, thermal neutron activation, and surface beryllium-7 deposition from the upper atmosphere. We also describe a database of these measurements that has been prepared for use in testing radiation environmental models and spacecraft design.

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NASA Discipline Radiation HealthLDEF ProjectNon-NASA CenterunmannedFlight Experimentlong durationSpacecraft/instrumentationBerylliumRadioisotopesSpace Flight/instrumentationProtonsNeutronsSpectrometry, Gamma/methodsNeutron Activation AnalysisResearchExtraterrestrial EnvironmentAluminum/radiation effectsRadioactivityDatabases, FactualAnisotropySolar ActivityMetals, Heavy

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Harmon, B. A., Laird, C. E., Fishman, G. J., Parnell, T. A., Camp, D. C., Frederick, C. E., Hurley, D. L., Lindstrom, D. J., Moss, C. E., Reedy, R. C., Reeves, J. H., Smith, A. R., Winn, W. G., Benton, E. V.. 1996-11-01. Induced radioactivity of LDEF materials and structural components. https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20040089396

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