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Radiation environments and absorbed dose estimations on manned space missions
S B Curtis1, W Atwell, R Beever
1Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley 94720, USA.
Advances in Space Research : the Official Journal of the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR)
|January 1, 1986
Summary
Astronauts face significant radiation exposure during space missions. Understanding space radiation environments and body shielding is crucial for developing effective radiation protection guidelines for manned spaceflight.
Area of Science:
- Space science
- Radiation biology
- Astrobiology
Background:
- Accurate assessment of radiation risk is essential for manned space missions.
- Understanding the space radiation environment and its effects on astronauts is critical for safety.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current knowledge of space radiation environments and expected absorbed doses.
- To inform the development of new radiation protection guidelines for astronauts.
- To assess radiation exposure for various space mission scenarios.
Main Methods:
- Reviewing existing data on space radiation environments.
- Estimating absorbed doses to various organs considering body self-shielding.
- Analyzing dose equivalents for different mission profiles and orbital inclinations.
Main Results:
- Manned missions (90-day Space Station, 15-day geosynchronous, 90-day lunar) yield dose equivalents of 5-10 rem to blood-forming organs without solar particle events.
- Solar particle events can significantly increase radiation exposure, particularly to skin and eyes.
- Orbital inclination affects radiation exposure, with 28.5 degrees offering some protection.
Conclusions:
- Radiation exposure in space is a significant concern for manned missions.
- Body self-shielding plays a role in mitigating absorbed doses.
- Further research and refined protection guidelines are necessary to ensure astronaut safety during long-duration space exploration.