Possible to Shield Astronauts from Cosmic Radiation?

  • Thread starter Thread starter dimensionless
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Radiation Shield
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the feasibility of shielding astronauts from cosmic radiation during a mission to Mars, exploring various technological approaches and health implications associated with interplanetary radiation exposure.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question whether current technology can adequately shield astronauts from cosmic radiation and express concerns about the health risks associated with this radiation.
  • One participant suggests using food and water storage around living chambers to absorb solar radiation, along with a small lead-lined compartment for emergencies during solar flares.
  • Another participant proposes the creation of a powerful magnetic field using superconductors to reduce the danger from cosmic rays, while also noting potential interference with body chemistry.
  • There is a suggestion that if ion propulsion is used, the magnetic field generated for the engines could also serve as radiation shielding.
  • One participant raises a question about the effectiveness of superconductors in blocking X-rays compared to their non-superconductive state, and extends this inquiry to Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) states.
  • Concerns about the weight of shielding technology are mentioned, indicating that it may not be a technological issue but rather a logistical one.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views on the effectiveness and feasibility of different shielding methods, indicating that multiple competing ideas remain without a clear consensus on the best approach.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight various assumptions regarding the effectiveness of proposed shielding methods and the potential health impacts of cosmic radiation, but these assumptions are not fully resolved within the discussion.

dimensionless
Messages
461
Reaction score
1
Do we have the technology to properly shield astronauts on a mission to Mars from interplanetary radiation? How much of a health issue is this radiation?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
In the designs I've seen, the food and water for the voyage would be stored around the living chambers, and absorb most solar radiation. In addition, a very small led-lined compartment has been proposed for emegencies. If a solar flare is detected, the cosmonauts lock themselves in this room until the worst has passed.

Of course, protection on the planet's surface is also a challenge, and may be haredr to solve.
 
I read in a science journal, that the creation of a powerful magnetic field around the spaceship via superconductors would lower the danger of cosmic rays.
 
SizarieldoR said:
I read in a science journal, that the creation of a powerful magnetic field around the spaceship via superconductors would lower the danger of cosmic rays.

Yes, but I think that a magnetic field that strong might also interfere with ordinary body chemistry.
 
LURCH said:
In the designs I've seen, the food and water for the voyage would be stored around the living chambers, and absorb most solar radiation. In addition, a very small led-lined compartment has been proposed for emegencies. If a solar flare is detected, the cosmonauts lock themselves in this room until the worst has passed.

Of course, protection on the planet's surface is also a challenge, and may be haredr to solve.

They still have to deal with cosmic radiation.

On the planet's surface they might just borrow into the ground.
 
I don't think the problem is in the technology, dimensionless. It's the weight.
 
SizarieldoR said:
I read in a science journal, that the creation of a powerful magnetic field around the spaceship via superconductors would lower the danger of cosmic rays.

That's an idea I once had, too. If the vehicle uses ion propulsion, the magnetic field for the engines might be used as shielding also.
 
Does anybody know if Superconductors let X-Rays pass as easly as the same Superconductors that are not in a Superconductive state?

Also, Please pose the same question for BEC states and not just Superconductors.

An honest answer will be sufficient.
 

Similar threads

NASA Inflatable heat shield a ‘huge success’, NASA says
  • · Replies 0 ·
Replies
0
Views
3K
Radiation Hard Electronic Design for LVO Long Mission
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
1K
Astronauts landing on the planet Mars
  • · Replies 82 ·
3
Replies
82
Views
7K
Wall thickness of ring habitats for radiation shielding
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
4K
Shielded and unshielded dose from a Co-60 source are the same?
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
SpaceX About the SpaceX Interplanetary Transport System
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
4K
Smart glass as Faraday shielding
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
Graduate Can any thin materials protect a Mars spacecraft from gamma rays?
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Is it possible to be both an astronaut and astrophysicist?
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
3K
High School Radiation shielding and redirecting
  • · Replies 44 ·
2
Replies
44
Views
8K