Exploring the Risks of Space Travel

[TheoryMan]

This is about the dangers of space travel. I would be interested to find out what other people think about them.

 

[Janitor]

Once you get out of low-earth orbit, the only protection from high-energy charged particles is whatever you get from the hull of the spacecraft . That is one consideration that they will need to address before humans try to make it to Mars.

 

[cronxeh]

I was wondering about an EM-field generator on board to shield from radiation and particles. Other dangers are micrometeorites and gamma radiation, oh and for long-term trips- air control, waste treatment, recycling, power production, food, water

 

[Chronos]

Blue shift is a problem when you approach relativistic speeds. EM shielding would be nice. Design concepts are welcome. I could get us a grant. Radiation shielding without tons of lead would save weight.

 

[LURCH]

It's likely that prolonged space travell will be propelled by plasma drive (now there's a technology to keep an ion!). If this turns out to be the case, I wonder if the charged plasma might travel through the hull-lining of the vehicle before being accelerated out the rear for thrust, thus producing an artificial ionosphere, and the magnetic field used to accelerate the plasma could create an artificial magnetosphere. These two features would go a long way toward protesting cosmonauts from radiation.

 

[kirovman]

Once you get out of low-earth orbit, the only protection from high-energy charged particles is whatever you get from the hull of the spacecraft . That is one consideration that they will need to address before humans try to make it to Mars.

How did they reach the moon then? Assuming they did of course.

 

[chroot]

kirovman,

The astronauts who went to the moon were indeed exposed to significant amounts of radiation. The length of their stay in space was relatively short, as was their transit through the Earth's Van Allen belts. The total radiation accumulated was not life-threatening over such a short period.

The trip to Mars would take not three days but eighteen months; the effect of radiation is thus a primary concern for a trip to Mars (or anywhere else).

- Warren

 

[Chronos]

Solar flares are a real headache when in space for a prolonged period of time. If a big one had ocurred at the wrong time during the Apollo moon missions, it could have really been ugly. Fortunately, the odds of having 'the big one' during a two week mission is quite small and these can usually be predicted in advance. NASA would have rescheduled a mission if the sun had shown signs of a major gastronomical event. No such luxury on a mission to mars. A major eruption would be virtually certain in a mission lasting nearly three years [18 months each way]. This is what NASA has said:

"A solar event is the single biggest danger astronauts would have to face on a mission to Mars."

 

[nickthrop101]

the lack of gravity and the feeling of weightlessness, or indeed radiation sickness can cause humans to do rash things :D
For example, there are people who have been on submarines for a long time in a cramp small place they have tried to hurt other people on the ship.
The lack of gravity affects the brain in such a way that you are more likely to become angry and rash, meaning one of the most dangerous threat during space travel, is your friends :D

 

[russ_watters]

Besides being a 5 year old thread, there is no lack of gravity on a sub...