Potential Threat of Solar Proton Events to Missions in Space
Abstract
The flux of solar protons impacting on spacecraft is a of the location and orbit of the vehicle. Solar proton events will not affect low inclination low altitude orbits and will only moderately impact a polar orbiting vehicle. However, lunar and interplanetary missions may be seriously impacted by a very large flux of energetic solar protons. A summary of our knowledge of solar proton events as acquired ma the past half century is presented together with a description of the potential threat of solar protons on various spacecraft orbits both within and beyond the magnetosphere.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1992
- Accession Number
- ADA277834
Entities
People
- Don F. Smart
- Margaret Shea
Organizations
- Phillips Laboratory