Improved understanding of the Earth's radiation belts from the CRRES satellite

Abstract

Energetic particle data gathered on the CRRES spacecraft have been used to produce new and more accurate models of high-energy electron and proton fluxes as well as total dose models out to geosynchronous altitude. In addition to providing the information necessary to improve designs and operations of near-Earth space systems, the models also give insight into the dynamic behavior of the radiation belts not considered in previous models. Sample orbit runs are compared to the earlier NASA models to elucidate their weaknesses. Areas of improved understanding in the radiation environment, gained from CRRES, and how they impact systems are summarized.