Related Experiment Videos
Large solar flare radiation shielding requirements for manned interplanetary missions
L W Townsend1, J E Nealy, J W Wilson
1NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, Virginia.
Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets
|March 1, 1989
Summary
Protecting astronauts from space radiation is crucial for Mars missions. This study estimates shielding needs against solar particle events, finding water-based materials superior to aluminum for radiation protection.
Area of Science:
- Space exploration
- Radiation physics
- Astrobiology
Background:
- Manned missions to Mars face significant radiation exposure risks beyond Earth's magnetosphere.
- Galactic cosmic rays and solar particle events are primary radiation threats to astronauts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To estimate required shielding thicknesses for interplanetary missions against solar flare events.
- To evaluate different shielding materials for astronaut protection.
Main Methods:
- Utilized NASA Langley Research Center's BRYNTRN nucleon transport code.
- Inputted proton fluences from major solar particle events (1956, 1960, 1972).
- Calculated dose equivalents behind various aluminum shielding thicknesses.
Main Results:
- The August 1972 solar event posed a life-threatening risk to thinly shielded spacecraft (< or = 5 g/cm2).
- Aluminum shielding effectiveness varied, with the February 1956 event being the most penetrating.
- Water shielding calculations indicated it could reduce dose equivalents to recommended astronaut exposure limits.
Conclusions:
- Organic polymers, similar to water, are more effective shielding materials than aluminum for protecting astronauts.
- Effective radiation shielding is critical for the success and safety of long-duration space missions.