The Altcriss project aims to perform a long term survey of the radiation
environment on board the International Space Station. Measurements are being
performed with active and passive devices in different locations and
orientations of the Russian segment of the station. The goal is to perform a
detailed evaluation of the differences in particle fluence and nuclear
composition due to different shielding material and attitude of the station.
The Sileye-3/Alteino detector is used to identify nuclei up to Iron in the
energy range above 60 MeV/n. Several passive dosimeters (TLDs, CR39) are also
placed in the same location of Sileye-3 detector. Polyethylene shielding is
periodically interposed in front of the detectors to evaluate the effectiveness
of shielding on the nuclear component of the cosmic radiation. The project was
submitted to ESA in reply to the AO in the Life and Physical Science of 2004
and data taking began in December 2005. Dosimeters and data cards are rotated
every six months: up to now three launches of dosimeters and data cards have
been performed and have been returned with the end of expedition 12 and 13.Comment: Accepted for publication on Advances in Space Research
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.asr.2007.04.03