EARTH BENEFITS
The results of the experiment will have great importance for answering a number of
fundamental questions: the sources of low-energy cosmic ray nuclei, including anomalous
component of cosmic ray, and the generation of energetic heavy particles in the sun.
SPACE BENEFITS
This investigation is applied to new knowledge and not specifically to advances in space
exploration.
RESULTS
The spectra of galactic cosmic ray iron nuclei and of
the iron ions of solar cosmic rays from the most
powerful flares in the range 30-160 MeV/nucleon
were measured. The results obtained point to the
broad capabilities of the PLATAN unit. This unit made
it possible to measure the spectra of galactic cosmic
ray iron nuclei and of iron ions of the most powerful
solar cosmic ray flares reliably and with a high-energy
resolution, which is extremely crucial to compare the
results of measurements with theoretical models. The
results of PLATAN together with those of a number of
experiments on orbiting stations made it possible to
discover the particular features of nuclei spectra and
to identify the systematic methodological differences when measuring particle streams in space
using different equipment. Microparticle streams in the environment surrounding the ISS,
micrometeoroids, and orbital debris, caused damage to heat shielding placed above a nuclei
detector. The total spectrum of the diameters of through-and-through holes caused by
microparticle penetration in heat shielding film was measured. The spectrum measured was
compared with simulation calculations. The majority of microparticles passing through the heat
shielding film remained in the top layer of the detector (Lavsan). However, a unique event was
noted: a microparticle punctured a steel frame of the chamber 0.5-mm thick. Such events pose
a significant hazard for the crew and equipment of orbiting stations, therefore, assessing the
probability of such cases is of great value.
PUBLICATION(S)
Platan-Iron
Baranov DG, Gagarin YF, Dergachev VA, et al. GKL and SKL ferrum nuclei fluences on ISS orbit.
30th RKKL, St. Petersburg, Russia; July 2-7, 2008.
Baranov DG, Gagarin YF, Dergachev VA, Nymmik RA, Yakubovsky EA. Low-velocity ferrum nuclei
energetic spectra fluences of Galactic cosmic rays in solar activity extremes. RAS Transactions
Physics. 2005;69(6):832.
A microparticle penetrating a steel frame
0.5 mm thick (PLATAN-M chamber #1).
Roscosmos image.