| People living on Earth are exposed to ubiquitous radiation originating from terrestrial sources of radioactivity and cosmic rays capable of penetrating the atmosphere. When humans travel into space, they no longer have access to protection provided by the atmosphere and geo-magnetic field. In deep space, beyond low earth orbit, the primary sources of radiation are galactic cosmic rays (GCR) and intense radiation emitted during solar particle events (SPE). These types of radiation are inherently different from that encountered on the surface of the earth. GCR deliver a continuous dose of radiation that is approximately 200-times greater than earth. Long-term exposures to radiation at these levels are associated with delayed effects such as cancer. Intermittent SPE can deliver extremely high doses of radiation that could cause immediate effects in humans. These effects are referred to as acute radiation sickness, which manifests with nausea, vomiting, and extreme fatigue.
The NSBRI Radiation Effects team is evaluating the consequences of different levels and types of space radiation on the development of acute radiation sickness in order to improve risk predictions and develop strategies to prevent or treat the symptoms. In addition, the team is developing portable radiation detectors that can be worn on the space suit during space walks. The objective is to continuously monitor the types and intensity of the radiations and provide an alarm to astronauts when increasing dose rates indicate an impending SPE. |
