The urine specimens collected pre- and postflight from the Apollo 15 mission were analyzed for their radionuclide content. Cosmic radiation dose estimates of 695 and 660 mR are calculated from the observed Na-22 and Na-24 concentrations respectively. The concentrations of Na-22, Na-24, K-40, K-42, Cr-51, Fe-59, and Cs-137 are given. The potassium excretion patterns of high postflight and low preflight levels established for previous missions appears to be reversed for this mission. The concentrations of 23 major, minor, and trace elements in the fecal samples from the Apollo 14 astronauts are reported. Most elemental excretion rates are comparable to rates reported for earlier missions. The major exception is potassium where loss rates are the lowest ever observed. This coincides with the anomalously low excretion of potassium in postflight urine specimens. Apparent mass balance of calcium and iron continues as in the Apollo 12 and 13 missions.
The measurement of radiation exposure of astronauts by radiochemical techniques
1971-10-15
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