NASA has long known that astronauts on long flights to the Moon or Mars will be exposed to higher levels of radiation from solar flares and cosmic rays than those currently on the International Space Station
NASA's goal of returning astronauts to the moon by 2020 and starting to move towards a manned flight to Mars will require making long strides in both understanding and preventing the dangers of radiation. This is according to a NASA report published yesterday (Monday).
NASA has long known that astronauts on long flights to the Moon or Mars will be exposed to higher levels of radiation from solar flares and cosmic rays than those currently on the International Space Station, which hovers within Earth's protective radiation belt. However, long-duration flights can cause irreversible damage. Unless NASA makes a serious leap on both the biological and solar physics fronts. This is according to a report entitled: "Radiation risks in space and their impact on the vision of the return to space compiled by the National Research Council.
"Reducing the uncertainties we have about the biological impact of radiation that we must dramatically improve as well as increase NASA's confidence in the response that can be provided to this threat" said Daniel Baker, director of the Atmospheric Laboratory at the University of Colorado.
Baker, who about a year ago headed a team that compiled the 104-page report published today, added that solar physics studies will also provide better insight into space "weather" prediction and protection to ensure the safety of astronauts on interplanetary missions.
"During the Apollo era, astronauts spent less than a week on lunar missions," the report states, "however, NASA's plans are to send crews to the moon that will stay on its surface for weeks or even months, and this increases the time they are exposed to unusual events of strong solar flares."
