One of the questions that arise when preparing for a long term space mission, is the amount of radiation exposure the astronauts will be subjected to.
In the case of an expedition to Mars, the question is daunting.
When the Mars Science Laboratory was sent into space towards its landing on the red planet, its sensors started to send back data on the radiation exposure for the 265 day, one way trip.
The data has been compiled to reveal that in essence without proper blocking of the radiation, the astronauts would be subjected to the equivalent of a CAT scan every 4-5 days.
In fact, Dr. Cary Zeitlin says that "unless propulsion systems advance rapidly, a large share of mission radiation will be during oubound and return travel, when the spacecraft and its inhabitants will be exposed to the radiation environment in interplanetary space, shielded only by the spacecraft itself."
The two most damaging types of radiation are galactic cosmic rays and short term exposure to solar energetic particles, which are emitted during solar flares and coronal mass ejections.
Such exposure can multiply the chances of fatal cancers later in life.
Although the vessel carrying the astronauts can be shielded from solar particles, there is no technical way to block cosmic rays.
Source : MNT 5.31.13
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