L. Koops, A. Sizmann

In the present study, we quantitatively assess the relevance of cosmic radiation exposure for the conceptual design of future high-speed air transportation systems. To this end, for flight trajectories of representative point-to-point intercontinental hypersonic cruise missions, the effective radiation dose is calculated, which in general increases with cruising altitude, time spent at high latitudes and with traveled distance or flight time. Our results are compared to those for reference missions of present day airliners with significantly longer flight times as well as additional gas stops due to subsonic cruise velocities. We find that the trade-off between increased radiation levels at higher altitudes and shortened flight times results in a benefit of radiation dose reduction per traveled distance for trajectories with (partly) hypersonic cruise at Mach [tilde] 5 compared to those with purely subsonic cruise. We comment on the dependence of the results on the solar cycle as well as on the implications for route planning in the absence of possible radiation shielding solutions.

Deutscher Luft- und Raumfahrtkongress 2014, Augsburg

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Luft- und Raumfahrt - Lilienthal-Oberth e.V., Bonn, 2015

Conference Paper

englisch

21,0 x 29,7 cm, 8 Seiten

urn:nbn:de:101:1-2015021323496

cosmic radiation exposure, hypersonic flight

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13.02.2015