When exploring deep space, how do you protect humans from a radiation event?
In the case of Orion, NASA’s new crew vehicle, a team is working on a resourceful way to use mass that will already be onboard to protect astronauts during a radiation event.
Essentially it will work like this – an instrument that senses radiation will warn the crew if they need to shelter themselves from a radiation event. The crew will then move to a central part of Orion and maneuver bags used for storage around them to create a shelter. Aside from an event requiring shelter, this area would normally be designated for stowage.
Orion radiation protection, Credit: NASA
The Orion capsule is a vehicle designed to take humans deeper into space than they’ve ever traveled. This will take them far beyond Earth’s magnetosphere and into territory where being prepared for radiation events is critical to preserving long-term crew health.
Different parts of the Orion vehicle have more or less material that protect against radiation. To enable the crew to effectively remain safe, they will create the shelter using seats and bags holding supplies, food and water. Bags that are more dense will be used in areas that have less materials for radiation protection. The bottom section has more shielding against radiation due to where the heat shield will be positioned.
How will being surrounded by the extra mass protect the crew? Solar particles will have to travel through the additional mass.
How will the crew create this shelter around themselves within an hour of being warned? Where will they put tubing for their air while in the shelter? What’s the most effective way to enter and leave the shelter? The team at Johnson Space Center have been evaluating procedures for all of these potential needs.
By utilizing these methods NASA will ensure safety for astronauts during radiation events, and the crew will have limited exposure to radiation and maintain their health while exploring deep space!
Orion will launch in 2018 on top of Space Launch System for Exploration Mission-1 in which it will fly past the moon and return to Earth. Although this mission will be unmanned, future missions will carry humans with them on journeys deeper than they’ve ever ventured before, including to Mars.
Learn more about the Orion capsule at NASA.gov.