Radiation Hazards to Crews of Interplanetary Missions

Radiation Hazards to Crews of Interplanetary Missions
Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 89
Release: 1997-03-27
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0309056985

NASA's long-range plans include possible human exploratory missions to the moon and Mars within the next quarter century. Such missions beyond low Earth orbit will expose crews to transient radiation from solar particle events as well as continuous high-energy galactic cosmic rays ranging from energetic protons with low mean linear energy transfer (LET) to nuclei with high atomic numbers, high energies, and high LET. Because the radiation levels in space are high and the missions long, adequate shielding is needed to minimize the deleterious health effects of exposure to radiation. The knowledge base needed to design shielding involves two sets of factors, each with quantitative uncertaintyâ€"the radiation spectra and doses present behind different types of shielding, and the effects of the doses on relevant biological systems. It is only prudent to design shielding that will protect the crew of spacecraft exposed to predicted high, but uncertain, levels of radiation and biological effects. Because of the uncertainties regarding the degree and type of radiation protection needed, a requirement for shielding to protect against large deleterious, but uncertain, biological effects may be imposed, which in turn could result in an unacceptable cost to a mission. It therefore is of interest to reduce these uncertainties in biological effects and shielding requirements for reasons of mission feasibility, safety, and cost.

Managing Space Radiation Risk in the New Era of Space Exploration

Managing Space Radiation Risk in the New Era of Space Exploration
Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 132
Release: 2008-05-29
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0309185726

As part of the Vision for Space Exploration (VSE), NASA is planning for humans to revisit the Moon and someday go to Mars. An important consideration in this effort is protection against the exposure to space radiation. That radiation might result in severe long-term health consequences for astronauts on such missions if they are not adequately shielded. To help with these concerns, NASA asked the NRC to further the understanding of the risks of space radiation, to evaluate radiation shielding requirements, and recommend a strategic plan for developing appropriate mitigation capabilities. This book presents an assessment of current knowledge of the radiation environment; an examination of the effects of radiation on biological systems and mission equipment; an analysis of current plans for radiation protection; and a strategy for mitigating the risks to VSE astronauts.

Acceptability of Risk from Radiation

Acceptability of Risk from Radiation
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages: 224
Release: 1997
Genre: Medical
ISBN:

The symposium was convened in 1996 by NASA and the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) to examine the philosophy of radiation protection and acceptable risk as it pertains to the three percent excess risk guidelines established in 1989. The objective was to examine the technological, strategic, and philosophical issues pertaining to acceptable risk and radiation in space. Presentations included the space radiation environment, biology relevant to space radiation, history of the development of radiation protection standards for space activities, analytic concepts for assessing risk as applied to human space flight, approaches to acceptable risk, perception and acceptance of risk from radiation exposure in space flight, physician and astronaut perspectives on philosophy on astronaut protection, and comments on space flight and radiation limits.