Agnirva Space Premier League - Expedition #31709: Tracking Space Radiation: A Student Study from Earth to Orbit

Cosmic radiation is one of the biggest health hazards for astronauts. But how much of it surrounds the ISS, and how can we measure it? Students at Valley Christian High School tackled this complex issue in their Background Radiation Experiment, flown during ISS Expeditions 39/40 and 45/46.

The ISS orbits about 400 km above Earth, placing it above much of our protective atmosphere. While Earth's magnetic field offers some shielding, astronauts aboard the ISS are exposed to more radiation than we are on the surface.

The student experiment aimed to quantify that exposure. They developed a compact radiation detector that could log background radiation levels over time. The key sensor was a Geiger-Müller tube—essentially a tiny detector that counts radiation hits, much like a clicker in a physics lab.

Once the experiment was deployed, it began logging data on radiation events throughout the orbit. The team back on Earth could then study how radiation levels varied with time, position, and solar activity.

One fascinating aspect the students explored was the South Atlantic Anomaly—a region where Earth’s magnetic field is weaker, exposing the ISS to more intense radiation. Their detector showed clear spikes in radiation as the ISS passed through this zone.

The project gave students first-hand experience in electronics, data analysis, and space physics. They even simulated the experiment on Earth to compare ground-based and space-based measurements, offering a richer understanding of how shielding and location affect exposure.

Through their work, students contributed valuable data that helps improve astronaut safety and guides future spacecraft shielding designs.

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