Since space radiation presents an extreme hazard to crews of interplanetary missions, the experiment will attempt to predict anticipated radiation doses that would be experienced by future astronauts and help determine possible effects of Martian radiation on human beings. Space radiation comes from cosmic rays emitted by our local star, the sun, and from stars beyond our solar system as well.
Space radiation can trigger cancer and cause damage to the central nervous system.
A spectrometer inside the instrument will measure the energy from these radiation sources. As the spacecraft orbits the red planet, the spectrometer sweeps through the sky and measures the radiation field. The instrument, with a 68-degree field of view, is designed to collect data continuously during Odyssey's cruise from Earth to Mars. It can store large amounts of data for downlink whenever possible, and will operate throughout the entire science mission.