Calculated energy loss spectra in the CRaTER detector for selected cosmic ray ions

In late 2008, the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) mission will be launched into orbit around Earth's moon. One of the objectives of this mission is to characterize the lunar radiation environment and its biological impacts on humans. For this purpose a collaboration involving research personnel from Boston University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, The University of Tennessee, The Aerospace Corporation, Air Force Research Laboratory, and the NOAA Space Environment Center successfully proposed to develop a sensor system called the Cosmic Ray Telescope for the Effects of radiation (CRaTER). CRaTER will directly measure linear energy transfer (LET) spectra, thereby providing a direct link between the ambient environment and its biological impact on future human missions to the Moon. In this presentation, analyses of energy loss spectra and particle distributions for selected incident cosmic ray ions at a variety of relevant energies will be presented for the CRaTER detector.