Predictions of Cell Damage Rates for Lifesat Missions

Authors

Francis A. Cucinotta, Rockwell International Space Systems Division, Houston, TexasFollow
William Atwell, Rockwell International Space Systems Division, Houston, Texas
Alva C. Hardy, Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas
Michael J. Golightly, Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas
John W. Wilson, Langley Research Center, Hampton, Virginia
Lawrence W. Townsend, Langley Research Center, Hampton, Virginia
Judy Shinn, Langley Research Center, Hampton, Virginia
John E. Nealy, Langley Research Center, Hampton, Virginia
Robert Katz, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

November 1990

Comments

NASA Technical Memorandum 102170

Abstract

Radiological experiments with cell cultures are expected to be performed on Lifesat to study possible gravitational dependence on cellular response. Predictions of cell damage rates for well-studied systems are expected to help guide in the selection of orbits and the design of experiments. In this report we estimate the fractions of cell death and neoplastic transformation of C3H10T1/2 cells (cultured mouse cells) for the proposed Lifesat orbits. The parametric cellular track model of Katz et al. (refs. 1 and 2) is employed using cellular response parameters derived from the experiments of Yang et al. (refs. 3 and 4). The contributions to the biological endpoints from the trapped protons and electrons, and GCR particles are considered for typical levels of spacecraft shielding. For the proton and GCR contributions the effects of nuclear reactions are taken into account. Expected counting rates for other possible cell culture experiments on Lifesat are discussed.