Space radiation issues within the Space Exploration Initiative (SEI)

Conference · Fri Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1993

OSTI ID:79454

Ward, T E ^[1]

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1. Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Inst., Bethesda, MD (United States)

One of the more important considerations of manned space-flight, outside the Earth`s magnetosphere with exploration and habitation of the lunar and Martian surfaces, is the radiation hazard. Specifically, the risk of high levels of radiation, due to Galactic Cosmic-Rays (GCR) and Solar Particle Events (SPE) during long duration manned missions of 2 - 3 years length, must be quantitatively assessed. Current limits of space radiation to astronauts (NCRP, 1989) could easily be exceeded on long missions, if shielding requirements are not met for spacecraft and habitats. Life-threatening solar flares occurring during a solar maximum are readily detected but not reliably predicted. Quantitative shielding estimates (Simonsen and Nealy, 1991a) for spacecraft indicate that 10 - 20 metric tons (mt) of water are required for shielding from a large solar flare event. It is therefore necessary and prudent to define the passive shielding requirements quantitatively with minimum uncertainties in order to reduce the overall vehicle mass. Additionally, the engineering design that utilizes materials, fuels, and cargo for supplemental shielding to a storm shelter will further reduce the weight penalty for radiation protection shielding.

• OSTI ID: 79454
• Report Number(s): CONF-9110312--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
FORECASTING
HUMAN POPULATIONS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATION HAZARDS
RADIATION PROTECTION
RADIOBIOLOGY
SOLAR FLARES
SPACE TRANSPORT