LET spectra of high energy proton beam on A-150: Model predictions for the crater detector

Doses to human crews in interplanetary space from energetic Solar Particle Events (SPE) are of a special concern for future lunar missions. The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) mission, scheduled to launch by the end of 2008 into Lunar orbit, will conduct several exploratory objectives, one of which is characterizing the lunar radiation environment and its biological impacts on humans. Research is currently being conducted for the purpose of developing a sensor system to be flown on the LRO called the Cosmic Ray Telescope for the Effects of Radiation (CRaTER) to measure the Linear Energy Transfer (LET) Spectra of SPE, providing a link between the Moon's radiation environment and its biological impact on humans. In this work, we present and compare computational predictions using two Monte Carlo transport models, HETC-HEDS and BBFRAG, for the LET spectra and total dose of three Solar Particle Events on Silicon and A-150 material (Tissue Equivalent Plastic) for the CRaTER detector configuration.