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A Mars Mission's Greatest Challenge: Radiation

Posted by michael on from the foil-underwear dept.

daSeiz writes "A New York Times article explores the possible effects of prolonged radiation exposure in deep space. Surprisingly, very little is known about the subject. We'll need to find innovative new ways of shielding spacecraft from fraction-of-lightspeed interstellar rubbish if we're ever to spend much time outside our own magnetosphere."

6 of 417 comments (clear)

  1. Ways to protect the ship by Janek+Kozicki · · Score: 4, Informative

    this problem is known, and Mars Society already has some solution for this problem.

    Anyway if you also wanted to know about radiation on the planet Mars, be sure it is not dangerous.

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    #\ @ ? Colonize Mars
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  2. Re:Artificial Magnetosphere? by GileadGreene · · Score: 5, Informative

    I think you'll find that your questions will be answered by a look at this site. It's all about Mini-Magnetospheric Plasma Propulsion (M2P2). They do exactly what you are asking for (create an artificial magnetosphere), and supply some nifty propulsion to boot. And no, it doesn't require megatons of molten iron, as some other posters have suggested...

  3. Re:Problems Like This by bravehamster · · Score: 5, Informative

    just bury them underground. That's hardly what I think Zubrin and company want.

    Umm...guess you haven't read his book. That's *exactly* what Zubrin wants, and advocates in his book "A Case For Mars". Just because someone wants something very badly does not mean they are blind to the realities of their dreams.

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    ---- El diablo esta en mis pantalones! Mire, mire!
  4. Re:Judging by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

    Wrong. The moon is increasing its mean distance from earth at a rate of 3.8 cm/year. You can look it up yourself.

  5. it's so obvious! by MOMOCROME · · Score: 3, Informative
    There is a drive technology called "Mini-Magnetospheric Plasma Propulsion", or m2p2, that in effect creates a large scale magnetic bubble around a spacecraft.

    In the current incarnation, it is intended as a solar-sail like drive for very low-mass probes. However, attached to a larger mass, like an interplanetary vehicle of the scale suitable for human occupancy, it would barely impart momentum at all, which would make it unsuitable as a drive technology.

    Though it would work wonderfully to shield the vehicle from the solar wind and other problematic radiation.

    The crazy thing is, though a portable magnetosphere is so obviously a crucial requirement for trans-planetary travel, there isn't a single resource available through my above-average googling skills. The technology is either so far removed from mainstream mission planning circles, or...

  6. Re:Bone loss by catfry · · Score: 3, Informative

    Actually I believe many of the astronauts on the ISS claim that the loss of bone mass has been drastically reduced with the kinds of excercises they are doing on a daily basis. Although the problem hasn't been completely eleminated read for example this letter from expedition 7 crewmember Ed Lu. "We have some indications that we may be close to solving the problem. In fact, one of our main goals this mission is to see if we can replicate the very good results obtained by some previous ISS crew members in preventing bone and muscle loss"