Radiation exposure for manned Mars surface missions

Technical Report · Thu Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1990

OSTI ID:6868082

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

The Langley cosmic ray transport code and the Langley nucleon transport code (BRYNTRN) are used to quantify the transport and attenuation of galactic cosmic rays (GCR) and solar proton flares through the Martian atmosphere. Surface doses are estimated using both a low density and a high density carbon dioxide model of the atmosphere which, in the vertical direction, provides a total of 16 g/sq cm and 22 g/sq cm of protection, respectively. At the Mars surface during the solar minimum cycle, a blood-forming organ (BFO) dose equivalent of 10.5 to 12 rem/yr due to galactic cosmic ray transport and attenuation is calculated. Estimates of the BFO dose equivalents which would have been incurred from the three large solar flare events of August 1972, November 1960, and February 1956 are also calculated at the surface. Results indicate surface BFO dose equivalents of approximately 2 to 5, 5 to 7, and 8 to 10 rem per event, respectively. Doses are also estimated at altitudes up to 12 km above the Martian surface where the atmosphere will provide less total protection.

• Research Organization: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Hampton, VA (USA). Langley Research Center
• OSTI ID: 6868082
• Report Number(s): N-90-18357; NASA-TP--2979; L--16708; NAS--1.60:2979
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560151* -- Radiation Effects on Animals-- Man
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ASTRONAUTS
ATMOSPHERES
BARYONS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
COSMIC RADIATION
DATA
DOSES
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
FERMIONS
HADRONS
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
INFORMATION
IONIZING RADIATIONS
MARS PLANET
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
NUCLEONS
NUMERICAL DATA
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PERSONNEL
PLANETARY ATMOSPHERES
PLANETS
PROTONS
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATION HAZARDS
RADIATIONS
SIMULATION
SOLAR ACTIVITY
SOLAR PARTICLES
SOLAR PROTONS
SOLAR RADIATION
STELLAR RADIATION
THEORETICAL DATA