Radiation exposure predictions for long-duration-stay Mars missions

Journal Article · Fri Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1994 · Journal of the Astronautical Sciences

OSTI ID:45876

Striepe, S A; Simonsen, L C; Nealy, J E

In this study, the ionizing radiation environment is estimated, using the Mission Radiation Calculation (MIRACAL) program, for several long-duration-stay Mars missions proposed for early in the 21(sup st) century. Both minimum energy and fast transfer missions are evaluated and their 30-day maximum, annual maximum, and total slab skin and blood-forming organ (BFO) doses are compared. When large flares were included while the astronauts were on the surface, the delivered dose did not significantly contribute to the total dose (less than 4 cSv BFO dose, or 8 percent of the guideline annual limit, for the most energetic event simulated) due to the substantial protection provided by the Martian atmosphere. However, dose delivered by large flares during transit is dependent on vehicle shielding and distance from the Sun. All of the fast transfer missions studied had lower total and annual maximum doses than the corresponding minimum energy transfer missions (on average, 30% less for missions having no large flares and the shielding thicknesses evaluated in this study). For all the missions studied, having the astronauts spend one-third of their day during transit in a 10 g/sq cm storm shelter resulted in an approximate 10% reduction in the total mission dose. 18 refs.

• Research Organization: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Hampton, VA (United States). Langley Research Center
• OSTI ID: 45876
• Journal Information: Journal of the Astronautical Sciences, Journal Name: Journal of the Astronautical Sciences Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 42; ISSN 0021-9142; ISSN JALSA6
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
APPLIED STUDIES
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
BLOOD CELLS
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
DOSEMETERS
RADIATION INJURIES
RADIATION PROTECTION