ESA studying radiation impacts of hardware and humans

There is little known about the effects of space radiation on the human body. Astronauts cannot see or feel it, yet the high doses they are exposed to outside Earth's cocoon pose health hazards for trips to the Moon and Mars. To help investigate and find out more, European scientists can now accelerate atoms at close to the speed of light to learn how to protect astronauts.

Space radiation passes through matter and penetrates the human body. Energetic particles impact living tissues, impairing normal function of cells and even killing them. An astronaut on a mission to Mars could receive radiation doses up to 700 times higher than on our planet. This type of radiation is a major concern for space agencies - the constant shelling of cosmic rays could damage crews and jeopardise a mission.

"The radiation risk is characterised by high uncertainty and lack of countermeasures. We need to know more," says Jennifer Ngo-Anh, ESA's team leader for human research, biology and physical sciences.

Radiation damage to the human body extends to the brain, heart and the central nervous system.

ESA is opening the doors to research into the biological effects of space radiation. Experiments should investigate radiation doses that astronauts could cope with while staying safe from cancer or other degenerative diseases during and after a mission.

Scientists are encouraged to investigate radiation risks and how to stop them with the right countermeasures.

Accelerating knowledge
ESA is offering access to a high-energy accelerator to recreate cosmic radiation by 'shooting' atomic particles to speeds approaching the speed of light.

Experiments will take place at the GSI accelerator facility in Darmstadt, Germany, also known for the discovery of six chemical elements and the development of a new type of tumor therapy using ion beams.

This facility has seen 36 experiments bombarding cells and materials with radiation to address the effects of space radiation. The accelerator will host a workshop in September for researchers interested in its potential.

The results from these studies are not solely space bound. "This research could contribute to better assess ionising radiation risks on Earth and improve charged particle therapy for oncology patients," says Jennifer.

Related Links
Human and Robotic Exploration at ESA
Space Technology News - Applications and Research

Tweet

Thanks for being there;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.

SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5+ Billed Monthly

paypal only

SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once

credit card or paypal

How NASA Prepares Spacecraft for the Harsh Radiation of Space
Greenbelt MD (SPX) Jun 11, 2019
In a small, square room walled by four feet of concrete, the air smells as if a lightning storm just passed through - crisp and acrid, like cleaning supplies. Outside, that's the smell of lightning ripping apart oxygen in the air, which readily reshuffles into ozone. But belowground in one of the rooms at NASA's Radiation Effects Facility, the smell of ozone lingers after high-energy radiation tests. The radiation that engineers use to test electronics for spaceflight is so powerful it shreds the ... read more