Preliminary estimates of galactic cosmic ray shielding requirements for manned interplanetary missions

Technical Report · Sat Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1988

OSTI ID:6461920

Townsend, L W; Wilson, J W; Nealy, J E

Estimates of radiation risk to the blood forming organs from galactic cosmic rays are presented for manned interplanetary missions. The calculations use the Naval Research Laboratory cosmic ray spectrum model as input into the Langley Research Center galactic cosmic ray transport code. This transport code, which transports both heavy ions and nucleons, can be used with any number of layers of target material, consisting of up to five different constituents per layer. Calculated galactic cosmic ray doses and dose equivalents behind various thicknesses of aluminum and water shielding are presented for solar maximum and solar minimum periods. Estimates of risk to the blood forming organs are made using 5 cm depth dose/dose equivalent values for water. These results indicate that at least 5 g/sq cm (5 cm) of water of 6.5 g/sq cm (2.4 cm) of aluminum shield is required to reduce annual exposure below the current recommended limit of 50 rem. Because of the large uncertainties in fragmentation parameters, and the input cosmic ray spectrum, these exposure estimates may be uncertain by as much as 70 percent. Therefore, more detailed analyses with improved inputs could indicate the need for additional shielding.

• Research Organization: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Hampton, VA (USA). Langley Research Center
• OSTI ID: 6461920
• Report Number(s): N-89-15070; NASA-TM-101516; NAS-1.15:101516
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560151 -- Radiation Effects on Animals-- Man
560151* -- Radiation Effects on Animals-- Man
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
640101 -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Cosmic Radiation
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ASTRONAUTS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BLOOD
BODY FLUIDS
CHARGED PARTICLES
COSMIC RADIATION
DATA
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
HEAVY IONS
INFORMATION
IONIZING RADIATIONS
IONS
MATERIALS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
NUMERICAL DATA
PERSONNEL
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATION HAZARDS
RADIATIONS
SHIELDING
SOLAR ACTIVITY
SOLAR FLARES
SPACE FLIGHT
SPACE VEHICLES
THEORETICAL DATA
VEHICLES