Safety Systems for Near Earth, Interplanetary, and Planetary Transport and Habitation Modules
- Image: NASA
Why are we involved in this research?
In order for humans to safely spend long periods of time in space a satisfactory system to shield them from harmful solar radiation must be developed. Russia, China, the European Union, and the United States are all planning to send manned missions to Mars. Mars is 1500 times farther from earth than the moon. Most missions to Mars using modern propulsion systems are expected to take approximately 26 months. The astronauts will spend 6 months going to Mars. Once they arrive they will spend 14 months on the surface of Mars and orbiting the planet. Their return trip will take another 6 months. It is on the trip to and from Mars that the astronauts will be most vulnerable to radiation. Especially radiation from the sun. The earth is protected from most solar radiation by both its atmosphere and its magnetic field. Current spacecraft designs lack both these protections. In fact, current spacecraft in use offer little protection from the sun, to the occupants. The sun can send potentially lethal amounts of radiation streaming out into space during a solar flare. If a spacecraft were to be directly hit by the stream of radiation produced by a solar flare the occupants could be severely injured or killed and the craft could be lost. It is imperative that a safe radiation barrier be developed in order for mankind to further explore our solar system.
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