Evaluation of the dynamic cutoff rigidity model using dosimetry data from the STS-28 flight

Abstract

We have a developed a dynamic cutoff rigidity model based on computed world grids of vertical cutoff rigidities derived from employing the Tsyganenko magnetospheric model. The dynamic range of this model covers all magnetic activity levels specified by integer values of the Kp magnetic index. We present comparisons of the measured dose observed on the space shuttle during the August 1989 solar proton event with the dose computed from solar particles predicted to be allowed through the magnetosphere to the space shuttle position. We find a one-to-one correspondence between the portion of the orbit predicted to be subjected to solar protons and the portion of the orbit where solar particle dose measurements were obtained.