Squire, Tim, Buchanan, Grant, and Elsaleh, Hany (2019) Mission to Mars: Radiation Safety or Radiation Disaster? Space Transit and Mars Radiation Exposure Risks—The Shielding Effect of a Graphene Space Suit and a Storm Shelter During Space Travel. International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics, 103 (5). E44-E44.

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Abstract

Background: In a successful transit and habitation of Mars the number one health risk posed to astronauts is radiation exposure [1]. Galactic cosmic radiation (GCR) consists mostly of protons and a small amount of biologically significant high atomic number charged particles which are difficult to shield against. Solar particle events (SPE) are mass ejections of protons from the sun that are difficult to predict. Passive shielding against heavy charged particles is challenging with large volume and heavy materials being impractical due to weight limitation in the context of spacecraft launch [2]. On Mars, radiation exposure is approximately 100× that on Earth. In order for successful habitation to occur safely, a structural foundation must be created similar in shielding to radiotherapy bunkers.

Objectives: The purpose of this research was to employ radiobiological as well as physics principles, and incorporate tools provided by NASA, to develop an intravehicular spacesuit and a storm shelter that might minimize radiation exposure to astronauts during a mission to Mars. Therefore, improving the chances of successful interplanetary travel and exploration.

Methods: The OLTARIS program was used investigate thirty-two potential shielding materials. Radiation exposure was estimated during a return transit to Mars of 360 days duration. We assessed each shielding material by its ability to decrease radiation dose received by a phantom during the constant GCR and a single SPE. For the storm shelter a large fluid cell was modelled adjacent to the astronaut during a SPE.

Results: From the modelled materials, the optimal suit was composed of a 6mm layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal configuration known as graphene. The modelled graphene suit reduced effective dose from GCR compared with an unshielded transit by 65% (233 mSv/yr vs 660 mSv/yr). This could equate to a 66% decrease in relative risk of death due to cancer (absolute risk 1.1% vs 3.3%). The most effective shielding mechanism during a SPE was achieved by modelling a storm shelter where a 100-cm thick liquid fuel tank was positioned to create a barrier adjacent to the astronauts. The liquid barrier reduced effective dose by 98.8% (44 mSv vs 3614 mSv). Other mitigation strategies were deduced and divided into launch, transit and habitation considerations.

Conclusions: A graphene based space suit could decrease astronaut exposure to harmful radiation during transit to Mars facilitating successful interplanetary travel. A storm shelter using fuel as a barrier also decreased radiation dose during a solar particle event. Knowledge of these materials may benefit future radiotherapy facility construction as well as mitigate risks during deep space radiation exposure for astronauts

Item ID:	84527
Item Type:	Article (Abstract)
ISSN:	1879-355X
Date Deposited:	28 Jan 2025 02:43
FoR Codes:	34 CHEMICAL SCIENCES > 3407 Theoretical and computational chemistry > 340702 Radiation and matter @ 100%
SEO Codes:	20 HEALTH > 2001 Clinical health > 200199 Clinical health not elsewhere classified @ 100%
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