THE BULGARIAN DOSIMETER "LIULIN-MO" ABOARD PROTON-M ROCKET SENDS FIRST DATA

The first data from the Bulgarian-made instrument “Liulin-Mo” aboard the Russian rocket “Proton-M” has been received, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences said on 12th of April, World Aviation and Cosmonautics Day. The instrument has functioned normally, within all operational modes, the Bulgarian scientists explained.

The instrument is part of the ExoMars 2016 mission and is on board the Russian “Proton-M” rocket, which blasted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on 14th of March, carrying the Russian-European ExoMars 2016 spacecraft to a journey to Mars with the goal of searching for signs of life on the Red Planet.

The data obtained on the radiation conditions in the interplanetary space at a distance of about 7,5 million km from the Earth shows that the average measured dose from galactic cosmic rays is 15 microgray per hour and the average particle flux is 2.9 per sq. cm per second. The information indicates that the dose of radiation, to which the astronauts will be exposed in the future mission will be at the limit, or higher. The assessments of the space radiation will be useful for the preparation of protective suits for the crew on the journey to Mars, which could take two or three years.

The dosimetric instrument "Liulin-Mo" was developed by a team of Bulgarian scientists from the Space Research Institute of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.

The testing and commissioning of all systems of the Trace Gas Orbiter are scheduled to be completed by 24th of April and begin periodic scientific research. The Russian instrument, a neutron detector FREND and the Bulgarian dosimeter " Liulin-Mo"  are expected to work during the whole stage of the flight to Mars.

The next data from the dosimeter "Liulin-Mo" is expected at the beginning of May. During the second part of the ExoMars project, which will start in 2018, the scientists hope to receive information about the radiation on the surface of the Red Planet itself.