ARCTIC HORIZON
SVALBARD

The Ground-based Cosmic Radiation in Antarctica and the South Pole (GRASP) experiment aims to advance the understanding of cosmic radiation by leveraging the unique environmental conditions surrounding Antarctica and the South Pole region. Cosmic rays, an incessant flux of high-energy particles originating from deep space, play a key role in atmospheric ionization and may influence cloud formation and climate processes.

Antarctica’s exceptional features and geophysical characteristics, including its high altitude (average elevation exceeding 2.5 km), vertical orientation of Earth’s magnetic field lines, and extremely cold, dry, and stable atmosphere, create an unparalleled environment for detecting cosmic rays. These conditions minimize atmospheric interference, facilitate the observation of low-energy cosmic radiation, and provide a terrestrial analog for studying cosmic radiation exposure relevant to space missions. Unlike balloon- or space-based instruments, ground-based detectors capture secondary particles produced in atmospheric air-showers as primary cosmic rays interact with atmospheric nuclei.

GRASP will employ two lightweight, portable miniaturized ionizing radiation detectors equipped with 0.8 cm³ CsI(Tl) scintillator crystals coupled to PiN photodiodes, housed in a low-power, cost-effective design. This system will allow the measurement of both background cosmic radiation and transient space weather events, such as Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) and solar flares, anticipated during the declining phase of Solar Cycle 25. By collecting data at locations along the route to the South Pole not previously included in cosmic ray monitoring networks, GRASP will provide valuable contributions to the existing cosmic radiation database. This experiment will not only enhance our understanding of cosmic ray fluxes in extreme environments but also offer insights into the broader implications of cosmic radiation for Earth’s atmosphere and space exploration.