Monitoring Sources of Nuclear Radiation in Space. Part 1. Early 1984 Observations. Revision
Abstract
Nuclear radiation from the reactor-powered satellite COSMOS 1579 has been monitored by the gamma-ray spectrometer (GRS) on NASA's Solar Maximum Mission satellite (SMM). Gamma rays from the RORSAT were detected about every 4 days as it passed within about 500 km of SMM. In addition, events attributed to positrons emitted from the outer shell of COSMOS 1579 were detected on the average of once every about 1.5 days. These positrons were detected at large distances (< or = 5000 km) from COSMOS after being stored in the earth's magnetic field for seconds or minutes. The rate of the positron detections is about a factor of two higher than observed for most of the earlier RORSAT's detected by SMM. At present, this increase is unexplained. The qualitative features of the measured gamma-ray spectrum from COSMOS 1579 are similar to those of preceding satellites; however, the spectral features are clearer. A model is presented for the origin of these features which suggests the presence of significant amounts of beryllium, sodium, potassium, molybdenum and lithium and/or hydrogen lying with tens of gm/sq. cm of material. There is also spectral evidence for the presence of either iron or aluminum. Based on this model we obtain a conservative lower limit to the thermal power of the reactor on COSMOS 1579. This lower limit is 30 kW.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 31, 1989
- Accession Number
- ADA209721
Entities
People
- Gerald H. Share
- James D. Kurfess
Organizations
- United States Naval Research Laboratory