#Graphene-based nanocomposites can serve as potential #radiation shields against ionizing radiation in the gamma and X-ray ranges, boasting a mass attenuation coefficient exceeding 0.2 cm2/g https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-69628-5

Earth remains under the influence of a waning high-speed #SolarWind stream. No Earth-directed coronal mass ejections (#CMEs) were observed over the past 24 hours. Earth’s #geomagnetic field was unsettled to active over the past day. https://earthsky.org/sun/sun-news-activity-solar-flare-cme-aurora-updates

#Astronauts travelling to #Mars would encounter #radiation levels higher than humans have ever experienced, and be exposed to them for much longer.

To protect them, the #spacecraft would either have to be much bulkier, making launches expensive and difficult, or be made of more efficient #shielding materials. https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/space-missions/how-will-humans-survive-the-journey-to-mars

A hitchhiker's guide to the #SolarSystem : using #NEO as #RadiationProtection shielding on the way to #Mars https://arxiv.org/pdf/2410.17047 by KNU #University of #Kyiv, #Ukraine

The #StormShelter concept has been changed for #Artemis II since the smaller shelter aboard Artemis I might not be big enough for the crew to carry out normal operations if they had to remain there for an extended period during a #SolarStorm https://edition.cnn.com/2024/09/19/science/artemis-i-orion-capsule-radiation/index.html

1989 Had you been flying around the #Moon at that time, you would have absorbed well over 6 Sieverts of radiation - a dose that would most likely kill you within a month or so.

2024 “It wasn’t possible 10 years ago. Using grid-like, porous structures we not only brought the weight down, but we also brought the needed power down from megawatts to 100 watts. Such shields are not #ScienceFiction anymore” https://arstechnica.com/science/2024/03/shields-up-new-ideas-might-make-active-shielding-viable

Traditional shielding strategies aim to reduce #astronaut radiation exposure by increasing vehicle mass, but this is ineffective for the extremely penetrating #galactic cosmic rays. #Astronauts will face radiation hazards resulting from solar activity that can create solar energetic particles. Active shielding approaches are likely a required component of any realistic solution (#electrostatic shielding) https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0969806X22000494

#Radiation shielding is a mandatory element in the design of an integrated solution to mitigate the effects of radiation during long #DeepSpace voyages for human exploration. #Kevlar has radiation shielding performances comparable to Polyethylene, reaching a dose rate reduction of 32 ± 2% and a dose equivalent rate reduction of 55 ± 4% (for a shield of 10 g/cm2). https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-01707-2

Despite guidelines and the past 30 years of research, there has been little progress on fully defining or mitigating the space radiation risk to human crew. Schwadron et al. project that Galactic Cosmic Ray fluences will be substantially higher during the next solar cycles leading to increased background #radiation exposure and, subsequently, as much as a 20% decrease in the allowable safe days in space (outside of #LEO) https://www.nature.com/articles/s41526-018-0043-2

#ESA is contributing three key elements to the #Gateway: Lunar #IHab*, #LunarView and #LunarLink. Together, these provide a habitable space for astronauts , refuelling, storage and telecommunication capabilities, and windows to view space and the Moon . https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/Exploration/Gateway

* Habitable volume: 10 m3, Launch mass: 10 tonnes https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/Gateway_Lunar_I-Hab

#NASA #Orion #radiation protection plan "astronauts will position themselves in the central part of the crew module and #create a #shelter using the stowage bags on board. The crew would in some cases need to stay inside for as long as 24 hours https://www.nasa.gov/missions/artemis/orion/scientists-and-engineers-evaluate-orion-radiation-protection-plan/

#Geomagnetic storms can cause electron density to increase . Measurements show long electron lifetimes (i.e., longer than 100 days) in the inner belt. Energy-dependent electron lifetimes of roughly five to 20 days are found in the outer belt https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Van_Allen_radiation_belt#Research

A surprising #geomagnetic storm hit and disturbed Earth’s geomagnetic field early today. A G2 (moderate) geomagnetic storm level was observed and a G1 (minor) storming was ongoing at the time of this writing. It seems the expected glancing blow from a #CME that left the sun on August 23 was a stronger hit. https://earthsky.org/sun/sun-news-activity-solar-flare-cme-aurora-updates/

Delaying crewed #Moon landings into the late 2020s could increase the chances that lunar #astronauts will be exposed to more extreme #SpaceWeather and its damaging effects. While extreme storms are less likely between now and 2026, the #researchers say, the interval between 2026 and 2030 will carry a higher likelihood of big events that mission planners may have to consider. https://www.astronomy.com/observing/could-hazardous-space-weather-threaten-nasas-artemis-program/

A period of high activity on the #Sun , known as #SpaceWeather or #SolarStorms, can affect technology on #Earth and #astronauts in #space. On Earth #solar storms can disrupt #satellites and also different forms of #electronic devices, such as #phones . https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/67705788

On #Earth, 2.4 mSv is normal. Above 100 mSv, cancer is likely. People on the #ISS face levels of 200 mSv, and #interplanetary levels of #radiation are around 600 mSv. Researchers speculate that travel to #Mars could involve a 30% risk of #cancer.
#Metals, including #lead and #aluminum, would make poor shields in #DeepSpace https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/308764

#RadiationProtection
#HumanSpaceflightHealth

#Nigeria August 2023 Technical Infrastructure for a Self-Sufficient and Sustainable #Intergalactic Hub master's thesis. The importance of #robots , a completely closed-loop #recycling system, and novel #RadiationShielding https://phys.org/news/2023-11-space-station-sunearth-l2.html

National Library of #Medicine : In case of #SPE occurrence for Intra-Vehicular Activities (IVA) outside a #RadiationShelter, dose reductions to BFO in the range of 44-57% are demonstrated to be achievable with the #spacesuit designs made only of water elements, or of multi-layer protection elements (with a thin layer of a high density material covering the water filled volume) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29198316/