RADIATION

The Importance of My Job

Congratulations, you have been chosen as the Radiation (RAD) officer for this important mission. Your job is to monitor the radiation level onboard the Spacecraft. A small level of radioactivity is normal. A large level of radioactivity could create a hazardous environment for the astronaut.

You will need to follow every step on this page, without skipping a single step. If you find at any point that the readings from the spacecraft are not safe, you must inform the crew! Do not begin the first step until told to do so by the Mission Commander.

You will be communicating with other teams using the CHAT at the bottom of the screen. Make sure you use the drop down menu to select the correct team you want to send the message to.  Once you have typed it in the CHAT, make sure to hit Enter so that the team receives it.

RESEARCH

Follow these directions for researching and analyzing RADIATION LEVELS

 

  1. Read the notes from the previous Isolation officer by clicking on the box labeled NOTES.
    NOTES

    When radioactive materials decay, they give off tiny particles. You cannot see these particles, but they may be in the air. The air system of the Spacecraft has a series of filters which constantly clean the air the crew breathes. These filters catch any radioactive particles that might be in the air. Large amounts of radioactive materials found in the filters could mean that radiation levels in the Spacecraft are too high. A Geiger Counter is used to measure the level of radiation being emitted by a substance. Very high readings mean that the substance is radioactive.

    Below the list of steps there is a RADIATION DATA LOG. In this RADIATION DATA LOG, you will be typing and recording the number readings the Mission Commander will give you in the future.

    2. Open the RESEARCH DATA LOG and answer the RADIATION RESEARCH questions.

    RESEARCH DATA LOG

    OPEN DATA LOG

    RADIATION

    Follow these directions for collecting radiation filter data:

    1. Locate the CHAT and send the following message to “COM”:

    The RAD team has a message for the Mission Commander. Please check the radiation levels of Filter A as soon as possible using the Geiger Counter.

    2. Read the information on safe radiation levels by clicking on the box labeled SAFETY.

    SAFETY

    You must find the average radiation reading for each filter being tested to determine whether or not there is a radiation emergency onboard the Spacecraft. 

    Any radiation reading of 5 or over means the filter has collected some radioactive particles.

    Any radiation reading of 30 or over means the number of radioactive particles collected has reached a dangerous level and there is an emergency.

    3. When the Mission Commander sends the radiation data for Filter A, open the RADIATION DATA LOG to record the data

    RADIATION DATA LOG

    OPEN DATA LOG

    RADIATION ANALYSIS

    Follow these directions for analyzing radiation filter data:

    1. Calculate the average of the three radiation readings for Filter A. Record the average in the RADIATION DATA LOG. If you need help with averaging the data, click the box below labeled AVERAGING.

    AVERAGING

    Use the following example to find the average reading:

    Reading #1 = 3

    Reading #2 = 4

    Reading #3 = 5

    Step 1: Add the three readings

    3 + 4 + 5 = 12

    Step 2: Divide the total by the number of readings (there are 3 readings).

    12/3 = 4

    The average for this example would be 4.

    2. Compare the average radiation reading for Filter A to your research to decide if the radiation reading is normal.

    3. Click “yes” or “no” to indicate if the radiation reading is normal or not, then click “Submit”.

    4. If you answered NO, not normal, scroll down to the section that says “EMERGENCY”.

    4. If you answered “YES”, send the following message to “COM”:

    The RAD team has a message for the Mission Commander. The average radiation reading for Filter A indicates that radiation levels are within normal parameters. 

    5. Once this is completed, you will repeat these steps for Filters B and C. Make sure to request the data from the Mission Commander by sending a message to “COM” in the call software.

    6. Once this is completed, unmute the mic and read the following:

    This is the RADIATION team. We have completed all our tasks.

    9. Wait quietly for any further instructions. 

    EMERGENCY

    When you find an emergency onboard the spacecraft, you will need to walk the Mission Commander through fixing the emergency. You will be speaking directly to the Mission Commander, so you must have your microphone enabled. Follow these instructions to begin:

    1. Locate the CHAT in your call software.
    2. Select “COM” from the drop-down menu.
    3. Send the following message to “COM”:

      This is Isolation. There is an emergency onboard the Spacecraft! Standby for further instructions.

    4. You will need to wait for the Flight Director to ask you to unmute yourself. Once this happens, continue on to the next step.
    5. Locate the MICROPHONE button on your call software. 
    6. The MICROPHONE button will have two states: on and off. To test that it works, say the entirety of the following message to Mission Commander:

    EMERGENCY! This is Isolation to Spacecraft, Do you read me, over?

    7. Wait for a response from the Mission Commander. If there is no response, press or click the MICROPHONE button to ensure you are not muted, and then resend the message. If you get a response from the Mission Commander, that means the communication system is working, and you may continue to the next step.

    8. Read to the Mission Commander these instructions to solve a radiation emergency:

    EMERGENCY! Filter ___ has a high radiation reading. Immediately place the filter in the Radioactive Materials container. 

    Locate and replace the radiation filter next to the ISO station in the Spacecraft.

    9. If the Mission Commander has placed the radiation filter in the Radioactive Materials container, the emergency is resolved. Continue working on your task cards.