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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."

2 of 417 comments (clear)

  1. 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...

  2. 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.

    --
    ---- El diablo esta en mis pantalones! Mire, mire!