Shielding against galactic cosmic rays

Ions of galactic origin are modified but not attenuated by the presence of shielding materials. Indeed, the number of particles and the absorbed energy behind most shield materials increases as a function of shield thickness. The modification of the galactic cosmic ray composition upon interaction w...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Advances in space research 1996, Vol.17 (2), p.31-36
Main Authors: Schimmerling, W, Wilson, J.W, Nealy, J.E, Thibeault, S.A, Cucinotta, F.A, Shinn, J.L, Kim, M, Kiefer, R
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aluminum
Animals
Astronauts
Cell Transformation, Neoplastic
Cells, Cultured
Cosmic Radiation
DNA Repair
Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation
Fibroblasts
Humans
Linear Energy Transfer
Mice
Radiation Dosage
Radiation Protection
Risk
Space Flight
Space Radiation
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Summary:Ions of galactic origin are modified but not attenuated by the presence of shielding materials. Indeed, the number of particles and the absorbed energy behind most shield materials increases as a function of shield thickness. The modification of the galactic cosmic ray composition upon interaction with shielding is the only effective means of providing astronaut protection. This modification is intimately connected with the shield transport properties and is a strong function of shield composition. The systematic behavior of the shield properties in terms of microscopic energy absorption events will be discussed. The shield effectiveness is examined with respect to conventional protection practice and in terms of a biological endpoint: the efficiency for reduction of the probability of transformation of shielded C3H10T1/2 mouse cells. The relative advantage of developing new shielding technologies is discussed in terms of a shield performance as related to biological effect and the resulting uncertainty in estimating astronaut risk.
ISSN:0273-1177
1879-1948
DOI:10.1016/0273-1177(95)00509-D