Radiation-shielding requirements on long-duration space missions

Technical Report · Mon Jul 21 04:00:00 EDT 1986

OSTI ID:6507768

Letaw, J R; Clearwater, S

An analysis of radiation shielding requirements on long duration space missions is presented. The report finds the principal radiation hazards to be galactic cosmic radiation (cosmic rays) and radiation from solar flares. Galactic cosmic radiation is a continuous source of radiation delivering a dose equivalent to the blood-forming organs varying from 20 REM/year to 50 REM/year over the 11-year solar cycle. Solar flares are randomly distributed events that are occasionally associated with lethal particle fluxes. The following recommendations are made: investigate alternative shielding materials that may be more effective against radiation hazards discussed here; a solar-flare storm shelter with a minimum of 7.5 cm aluminum shielding (or shielding of equivalent effect) is required at all times for space flights outside the magnetosphere. Spacecraft designed to transport people outside the magnetosphere for long durations during solar minimum must provide at least 7.5 cm aluminum shielding of all living spaces. Acceptable dose limits for the full-scale exploration and industrialization of space must be studied.

• Research Organization: Severn Communications Corp., Severna Park, MD (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6507768
• Report Number(s): AD-A-177512/1/XAB; SCC-86-02
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640104 -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Solar Phenomena
654001* -- Radiation & Shielding Physics-- Radiation Physics
Shielding Calculations & Experiments
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS
COSMIC RADIATION
DISASTERS
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
INTERPLANETARY SPACE
IONIZING RADIATIONS
MATERIALS
RADIATION HAZARDS
RADIATIONS
SHELTERS
SHIELDING
SOLAR ACTIVITY
SOLAR CYCLE
SOLAR FLARES
SOLAR RADIATION
SPACE
SPACE FLIGHT
STELLAR RADIATION
STORMS