After initial setup and activation, Space Station crew members will have minimal interaction with the Bonner Ball experiment. A crew member will downlink data stored in the Bonner Ball's hard drive to scientists on Earth once a week using the Human Research Facility Workstation Computer. Equipment status checks also will be performed weekly, and when the hard drive is replaced. The Bonner Ball Neutron Detector first flew on board Space Shuttle mission STS-89 to perform neutron radiation measurements inside the space vehicle during a trip to the Russian space station Mir. This was the first time neutron radiation was measured by an active detector inside the Space Shuttle.
Active detectors use power to record and transmit data to Earth from space.
Previous measurements were recorded passively, which meant data had to be returned to Earth for analysis. During the Shuttle STS-89 mission, the Bonner Ball was able to differentiate between neutron and proton radiation. Protons are positively charged subatomic particles. Neutron radiation is more common than proton radiation, which rarely is produced naturally on Earth. Benefits With radiation measurements taken on board the International Space Station, scientists also will learn how long a crew member can remain in space before dangerous levels of radiation are absorbed by the body.