Advances in Space Radiation Physics and Transport at NASA

Publication date: Available online 10 July 2019Source: Life Sciences in Space ResearchAuthor(s): John W. Norbury, Tony C. Slaba, Sukesh Aghara, Francis F. Badavi, Steve R. Blattnig, Martha S. Clowdsley, Lawrence H. Heilbronn, Kerry Lee, Khin M. Maung, Christopher J. Mertens, Jack Miller, Ryan B. Norman, Chris A. Sandridge, Robert Singleterry, Nikolai Sobolevsky, Jan L. Spangler, Lawrence W. Townsend, Charles M. Werneth, Kathryn Whitman, John W. WilsonAbstractThe space radiation environment is a complex mixture of particle types and energies originating from sources inside and outside of the galaxy. These environments may be modified by the heliospheric and geomagnetic conditions as well as planetary bodies and vehicle or habitat mass shielding. In low Earth orbit (LEO), the geomagnetic field deflects a portion of the galactic cosmic rays (GCR) and all but the most intense solar particle events (SPE). There are also dynamic belts of trapped electrons and protons with low to medium energy and intense particle count rates. In deep space, the GCR exposure is more severe than in LEO and varies inversely with solar activity. Unpredictable solar storms also present an acute risk to astronauts if adequate shielding is not provided. Near planetary surfaces such as the Earth, moon or Mars, secondary particles are produced when the ambient deep space radiation environment interacts with these surfaces and/or atmospheres. These secondary particles further complicate the local radiation e...
Source: Life Sciences in Space Research - Category: Biology Source Type: research