DOSIMETRIC MAPPING (DOSMAP)
Research Area: Radiation Impacts on Humans
Expeditions: 2
Principal Investigator(s): ● Günter Reitz, PhD, German Aerospace Center, Köln, Germany
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
Dosimetric Mapping (DOSMAP) allows mapping of radiation levels throughout the internal
environment of the International Space Station (ISS) and in the immediate vicinity of each crew
member. The resulting data help determine the best radiation shielding locations aboard the
ISS, thereby providing the crew with the best possible protection during unusually high levels of
radiation that is due to solar flares and other cosmic phenomena.
EARTH BENEFITS
This experiment is teaching scientists more about the use of devices for data collection and how
to monitor real-time data. This could prove beneficial to radiation monitoring of commercial
airline crews and military flight crews.
SPACE BENEFITS
DOSMAP will produce a clearer image of the radiation environment aboard the ISS, revealing
what segments provide better radiation shielding and examining the radiation levels
immediately surrounding crew members. DOSMAP research will help scientists more accurately
predict radiation exposure in long-duration spaceflight, both in low-Earth orbit and outside
Earth’s magnetic field. With this information, it will be possible to develop countermeasures
that will protect crews in space on longer missions to Mars and the moon, and it may also help
lead to technologies to protect people working in potentially radioactive areas on Earth such as
nuclear power plants and nuclear submarines.
RESULTS
Radiation damage to the human body is
indicated by the amount of energy
deposited in living tissue by the type of
radiation causing the damage. The
background radiation dose received by
an average person in the United States is
approximately 10 microSv/day. An
exposure of 1 Sv/hour can result in
radiation poisoning and a dose of 5
Sv/hour will result in death in 50% of
exposed individuals. An average dose
from all detectors during Expedition 2
was found to be 532 microSv/day. Three
important conclusions were drawn from
this experiment that will help with future
monitoring activities: The correctionsISS002E7814 (June 26, 2001) - James S. Voss, Expedition
Two flight engineer, sets up the Human Research Facility's
(HRF) Dosimetric Mapping (DOSMAP) Power Distribution
Unit (PDU) in Destiny.