The ISS lives in low Earth orbit protected from solar high energy particle radiation by the Earth's Van Allen Belts. A slow move out using ION drives and a long duration stay in lunar orbit would expose the occupants to deadly radiation doses.
Granted, any future trip to Mars also must solve this extremely difficult problem, however the current thinking for Lunar missions is a repeat of the short duration trips much like those of the Apollo years. Even then, a Lunar outpost could be made radiation safe by digging into the regolith (lunar soil).
As for building a shelter for the ISS, the sheer weight of a water jacket or plastic particle shield could double the mass of the station.
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The ISS lives in low Earth orbit protected from solar high energy particle radiation by the Earth's Van Allen Belts. A slow move out using ION drives and a long duration stay in lunar orbit would expose the occupants to deadly radiation doses.
Granted, any future trip to Mars also must solve this extremely difficult problem, however the current thinking for Lunar missions is a repeat of the short duration trips much like those of the Apollo years. Even then, a Lunar outpost could be made radiation safe by digging into the regolith (lunar soil).
As for building a shelter for the ISS, the sheer weight of a water jacket or plastic particle shield could double the mass of the station.