Space radiation dosimeter SSJ* for the block 5D/Flight 7 DMSP (Defense Meteorological Satellite Program) satellite: calibration and data presentation. Environmental research papers

The DMSP/F7 satellite carries, in addition to weather-monitoring devices, a number of instruments that measure the space environment for the purpose of scientific study. These are an auroral imaging device, precipitating-electron and -ion detectors, a thermal-plasma analyzer, a fluxgate magnetometer, and a space-radiation dosimeter. Together, these provide a strong tool for analyzing the high-latitude, near-Earth, magnetospheric environment. This report was prepared to facilitate the use of the data from one of these instruments, the space-radiation dosimeter, and to show the data can be used to obtain both dose and flux measurements of high-energy relativtic electrons and protons at low altitudes. The report includes: a description of the DMSP/F7 orbit; a description of the space-radiation dosimeter and the data it returns; the method by which dose is determined; the method by which flux is determined; and a discussion of the use of high-threshold-energy proton- and ion-induced star counts. Appendices A and B present the response of the dosimeter to electron bremsstrahlung and a list of the interactive routines available at AFGL for data analysis.