Preliminary comparison of dose measurements on CRRES to NASA model predictions

Measurements of proton and electron dose from the space radiation dosimeter on the CRRES satellite, in a 18.1°, 350 km by 33000 km orbit, are compared to the NASA models for solar maximum conditions. Up to the time of the large, solar-initiated particle events near the end of March 1991, the results are similar to those previously reported for solar minimum at low altitudes. That is, prior to the March event, there is excellent agreement between model and measured values for protons and poor agreement for electrons. During the event period a second proton belt was formed at higher altitudes which is not contained in the proton models, and the electrons increased over an order of magnitude for the CRRES orbit. This resulted in poorer agreement between model and measured values for protons during and after the solar proton event and better agreement for electrons during the electron enhancement period. What the data show is that, depending on orbit, both the existing proton and electron models can give large errors in dose that can compromise space system performance and lifetime