Badhwar–O’Neill galactic cosmic ray model update based on advanced composition explorer (ACE) energy spectra from 1997 to present

Abstract

Accurate knowledge of the interplanetary Galactic Cosmic Ray (GCR) environment is critical to planning and operating manned space flight to the moon and beyond. In the early 1990s, Badhwar and O’Neill developed a GCR model based on balloon and satellite data from 1954 to 1992. Since August 1997 the Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE) has provided significantly more accurate GCR energy spectra due to its much larger collection power.The original Badhwar–O’Neill Model, updated with the new ACE data, should provide interplanetary mission planners with highly accurate GCR environment data for radiation protection for astronauts and radiation hardness assurance for electronic equipment.