| Abstract
Creation and utilization of a world wide web based space radiation effects code: SIREST R. C. Singleterry Jr.1, J. W.
Wilson1, J. L. Shinn1, R. K. Tripathi1, S. A. Thibeault1, A. K. Noor2,
F. A. Cucinotta3, F. F. Badavi4, C. K. Chang4,
G. Qualls5, M. S. Clowdsley6, M.-H. Y. Kim7, J. H. Heinbockel8, J. Norbury9, S. R. Blattnig9, J. Miller10,
C. Zeitlin10, L. H. Heilbronn10
In order for humans and electronics to fully and safely
operate in the space environment, codes like HZETRN (High Charge and
Energy Transport) must be included in any designer's toolbox for design
evaluation with respect to radiation damage. Currently, spacecraft
designers do not have easy access to accurate radiation codes like HZETRN
to evaluate their design for radiation effects on humans and electronics.
With computer technology from the early 90's, this meant having an
executable copy of the program on the designer's computer. If there were
multiple designers at the same geographical location, they could possible
share the code. Today, the World Wide Web is sophisticated enough to
support the entire HZETRN code and all of the associate pre and post
processing tools: SIREST (Space Ionizing Radiation Effects and Shielding
Tools). This paper will describe the transition from HZETRN to SIREST.
There are many advantages to SIREST and not many disadvantages. The most
important advantage is the instant update capability of the web. When the
researchers at Langley and elsewhere create and validate a new model for,
say, the transport of gamma rays, electrons, and pions, then when SIREST
is updated, and everybody has the new update. There is no need to send out
updates to all the users and track these updates. Another major advantage
is the modularity that the web imposes on the code. Since SIREST will
allow a choice of scenarios from LEO to interplanetary orbit and beyond,
then the code to service these selections must be modular and therefore
can be easily upgraded when, say, new Jupiter trapped charged particle
models arise. Right now, the major disadvantage of SIREST will be its
modularity inside the designer's system. This mostly comes from the fact
that a consistent interface between the designer and the computer system
to evaluate the design is incomplete. This, howe-ver, is to be solved in
the Intelligent Synthesis Environment (ISE) program being funded by NASA.
One last exciting aspect of SIREST is in its ability to display data. If
special hardware exists at the designer's site, like a CAVE or some other
kind of three dimensional display capability, then a total design analysis
can be displayed in a three dimensional, 1:1 scale ratio of the vehicle.
Therefore, a designer can float like an astronaut to the point of, say,
highest radiation damage in the vehicle and literally look in all
directions to see what element in the design is causing the radiation
anomaly. This is a new capability that has not existed for radiation codes
and most other design aspects. With the reduction in cost of the hardware
for three dimensional display capabilities, this will become a tool that
will be fully utilized and become a standard output of all design tools.
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