Development of a soft-landing system for space applications

The gamma-ray technique is used in industrial and scientific applications. For space, it is used to evaluate the distance in critical soft-landing operations of descent vehicles by measuring the backscattered rays from landing surfaces. While the concept is known, its implementation is poorly documented and concealed. This work aims to investigate the detail necessary for gamma-ray altimeters aside from those already found on spacecraft modules. Monte Carlo simulations along with experiments were performed using a 10 Ci 137Cs irradiator and a high-resolution LaBr detector at the Ontario Tech University gamma facility. The simulation was validated with experiments using aluminum sheets. Different backscattering surfaces were investigated for materials likely encountered by a descent module. The data suggests that surface material composition and density have limited importance. Hydrogen content influences the shape of the spectra, but it does not interfere with the backscatter peak. The simulation agrees with experiment data within 6.29%.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Applied Science (MASc)

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Nuclear Engineering

Grantor

University of Ontario Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2023

Author dc:creator

• Lee, Isaac

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Machrafi, Rachid

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10155/1887

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:ontariotechu.scholaris.ca:10155/1887