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The central objective of the Earth-Moon-Mars Radiation Environment Module (EMMREM) project is to develop and validate a numerical module for completely characterizing time-dependent radiation exposure in the Earth-Moon-Mars and Interplanetary space environments. An important step in the process of building this system is the development of the interfaces between EMMREM's internal components, many of which have existed previously as stand-alone simulation codes. This work specifically discusses the development and implementation of the interface, primarily using the Perl scripting language, between two input data set generators, one of which describes the space radiation environment at some desired location, and a space radiation transport and shielding code, BRYNTRN, that provides estimates at fairly short time intervals of dose and dose equivalent behind shielding.

For deep space missions, a major concern is the occurrence of large solar particle events. In this work a dynamic, new type of artificial neural network called a Sliding Time Delay Neural Network that is capable of accurately predicting total dose for an event, from several input doses early in the event, is presented. The network can update its total dose predictions during the event as new input data are received. Results from testing indicate that the network can predict total doses from large events that are outside the training set to within 4% very early in the event.

The Lunar Orbiter Mission (LRO) is scheduled to launch at the end of 2008. It will carry different instruments to explore a variety of aspects on the Moon's surface. One of the goals of the LRO is to characterize the lunar radiation environment and its biological impacts on humans. For this purpose a collaboration involving research personnel from Boston University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, The University of Tennessee, The Aerospace Corporation, Air Force Research Laboratory, and the NOAA Space Environment Center successfully proposed to develop a sensor system called the Cosmic Ray Telescope for the Effects of Radiation (CRaTER). CRaTER will be used to examine the Linear Energy Transfer (LET) spectra of solar particle events (SPE) and galactic cosmic radiation (GCR) in Tissue Equivalent Plastic (A-150) material.

Doses to human crews in interplanetary space from energetic Solar Particle Events (SPE) are of a special concern for future lunar missions. The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) mission, scheduled to launch by the end of 2008 into Lunar orbit, will conduct several exploratory objectives, one of which is characterizing the lunar radiation environment and its biological impacts on humans. Research is currently being conducted for the purpose of developing a sensor system to be flown on the LRO called the Cosmic Ray Telescope for the Effects of Radiation (CRaTER) to measure the Linear Energy Transfer (LET) Spectra of SPE, providing a link between the Moon’s radiation environment and its biological impact on humans.