Jesse S. Taylor, Cal Poly San Luis ObispoTitle: Radioisotopes in Meteorites and a Space Blanket from the MirAuthors: J.S. Taylor, R. Grismore (California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo); R.A. Llewellyn, M.D. Brown (University of Central Florida)Abstract: An ongoing search for 26Al in meteorites and lunar samples was turned to focus on an aluminum space blanket used on the Mir Space Station. Radionuclides formed by cosmic-ray bombardment of the space blanket were found. Evidence also indicates that some radioisotopes may have been swept up from space by the blanket. This data is compared with findings from previously studied meteorites. Data was taken using a multidimensional gamma-ray spectrometer consisting of two NaI scintillation counters and a plastic Compton-suppression ring. Coincident gammas found in the meteorites are due primarily to 26Al, whereas the space blanket exhibits much more activity characteristic of other radioisotopes. All samples show evidence of positron emitters by the presence of a 0.511 x 0.511 MeV annihilation gamma peak. The radioisotopes found in the space blanket and meteorites will be presented and discussed. |