Dose and shielding calculation of galactic cosmic ray using FLUKA Mont Carlo code

Astronauts' exposure to space radiation is a limiting factor for long-term missions. Therefore shielding is a critical issue in space mission success. In this work the FLUKA Monte Carlo code has been coupled with simple models of the spacecraft and equivalent phantom to calculate skin averaged doses due to exposure to Galactic Cosmic Rays (GCR) beyond various thicknesses of aluminium and polyethylene shields. Simulations have been performed for the most abundant elements including H, He, C and Fe ions. The spectra of these ions have been taken from Badhwar-O'Neill's model, and LET distribution of the ions and electrons calculated using SRIM and ESTAR computer programs, respectively. It has been observed that GCR absorbed dose behind the shields remained approximately constant with increasing shield thicknesses, but dose equivalent shows a slight decrease. It is also found that although polyethylene is a more effective GCR shield than aluminum as indicated in the results of similar investigations, but the practical thicknesses of polyethylene are still insufficient to shield high energy GCR ions encountered in long-term space missions.