Technical Paper
Forecasting and Monitoring Solar Particle Events in Support of International Space Station Operations
1996-07-01
961582
Solar Particle Events (SPE) are a rapid increase over the normal background in the near-earth space of charged particles, including protons and heavier ions. During SPE energetic particle fluxes from the Sun increase to thousands of times background in the space of a few hours. The largest SPE pose a hazard for crews of space missions, including the International Space Station, and operational responses to the events need to be developed. As a first-level strategy, measurements of SPE fluxes made in real time from satellites allow a continuous check of the particle populations and allow comparison to dosimeters on board spacecraft. The wide range of event sizes poses a problem in developing a strategy of avoiding high radiation doses during large events and frequent operational interruptions at times of small events that pose less hazard to space crews. Monitoring the Sun and Sun-earth space provides a means of forecasting the occurrence of SPE several hours in advance.