Cosmic radiation bombards Fred the Phantom Torso. Ouch!

William Atkins
Thursday, 28 May 2009 06:21

Science - Space

Fred is spending the next four-month stay on the International Space Station helping NASA scientists learn more about space radiation as it affects its astronauts.

Currently, NASA thinks that the radiation the International Space Station astronauts are exposed to is "too small to be of concern."

However, the U.S. space agency is definitely concerned with extended spacewalks outside the relatively safe confines of the Space Station.

For more on this topic please read the May 4, 2001 NASA article “The Phantom Torso.”

The latest analysis of Fred, from previous missions, finds that his body’s measurement of radiation is accurate to within 10% of what humans would experience in the same conditions in space. NASA is very happy with this result.

For additional information on Fred the Phantom Torso, please read the May 27, 2009 NASA article “The Phantom Torso Returns."

Fred comes compliments of CIRS, or Computerized Imaging Research Sensor, Inc., based out of Norfolk, Virginia. Check out its web site at "3 Dimensional Torso Phantom."

Its web site states, "The CIRS Anthropomorphic Torso Phantom is designed to provide an accurate simulation of an average male torso for medical imaging applications. The removable organs enable flexibility in the placement of TLD’s, contrast agents, etc.. The epoxy materials used to fabricate the phantom provide optimal tissue simulation in the diagnostic energy range (40 keV to 20 MeV)."