Dosimetry during Space Missions

The United States' astronauts have been exposed to a complex radiation environment that poses unique problems in high-energy radiation dosimetry. Since the astronauts were exposed to natural radiation sources with a potential for delivering very large radiation exposures, exposure limits in excess of occupational limits were adopted. These limits represent a balancing of the risk from injury due to radiation exposure against other very high risks inherent in space flight and against the benefits to be derived from the space missions. The limits adopted for Apollo, Skylab, and Apollo/Soyuz are given along with the details of the radiation monitoring activities of the mission. The radiation exposures experienced in the United States' space missions are also given.