AstroRad Radiation Protective Equipment Evaluations on Orion and ISS
- Paper number
IAC-19,A1,5,5,x52629
- Author
Dr. Gideon Waterman, Israel, StemRad
- Coauthor
Dr. Oren Milstein, Israel, StemRad
- Coauthor
Mrs. Lily Knight, Israel, StemRad
- Coauthor
Mr. John Charles, United States, Space Center Houston
- Coauthor
Ms. Kathleen Coderre, United States, Lockheed Martin Corporation
- Coauthor
Mr. Jerry Posey, United States, Lockheed Martin Corporation
- Coauthor
Mr. James Thaxton, United States, Lockheed Martin Corporation
- Coauthor
Dr. Razvan Gaza, United States, Lockheed Martin Corporation
- Coauthor
Mr. Hesham Hussein, United States, Lockheed Martin Space Systems
- Coauthor
Dr. Chirag Patel, United States, Lockheed Martin (Space Systems Company)
- Coauthor
Dr. Tad Shelfer, United States, Lockheed Martin Corporation
- Coauthor
Mr. David Murrow, United States, Lockheed Martin (Space Systems Company)
- Coauthor
Dr. Thomas Berger, Germany, Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR)
- Coauthor
Mr. Joachim Aeckerlein, Germany, German Aerospace Center (DLR)
- Coauthor
Dr. Karel Marsalek, Germany, German Aerospace Center (DLR)
- Coauthor
Dr. Daniel Matthiae, Germany, Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR)
- Coauthor
Dr. Bartos Przybyla, Germany, Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR)
- Coauthor
Dr. Ulrich Straube, Germany, European Space Agency, ESA
- Coauthor
Dr. Ramona Gaza, United States, NASA
- Coauthor
Dr. Martin Leitgab, United States, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
- Coauthor
Dr. Kerry Lee, United States, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
- Coauthor
Mr. Edward J. Semones, United States, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Johnson Space Center
- Year
2019
- Abstract
The Comfort and Human factors AstroRad Radiation Garment Evaluation (CHARGE) is scheduled to begin on-board the International Space Station (ISS) this summer. The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS) aids ISS integration. AstroRad is radiation personal protective equipment for astronauts beyond low Earth orbit. StemRad and Lockheed Martin developed this equipment to protect crew from unpredictable solar particle events (SPE) with intense radiation dose rates. For CHARGE, crew will wear an AstroRad on ISS for variable durations while doing nominal tasks. They will assess ease of donning the equipment, ergonomics, freedom of motion, comfort and general user experience. Another task that will be explored is showing compact vest stowage during launch and when not in use. Crew will use the iQ&A iPad application (used on ISS in recent studies) to record feedback. The application offers an easy crew interface to answer standard surveys as well as provides the ability to attach photos and videos. AstroRad uses passive shielding in an efficient manner. The vest maximizes the solid angle of coverage with a proprietary selective shielding strategy. The design optimizes protection factors for specific radiosensitive organs, tissues and stem cell concentrations. This feature has the potential of reducing the probability of radiation exposure induced death in thinly-shielded spacecraft as well as diminishing long-term, adverse health effects. Selective tissue protection is achieved through variable thickness shielding, augmenting self-shielding of human body. AstroRad is also scheduled for experimental radiation testing with the Matroshka AstroRad Radiation Experiment (MARE) on Orion Exploration Mission-1. NASA, the Israel Space Agency (ISA) and the German Aerospace Center (DLR) will take measurements and perform analysis on MARE. MARE will characterize the radiation environment beyond low Earth orbit in the Orion module. MARE will also quantify AstroRad protection factors for both Galactic Cosmic Radiation (GCR) and Van Allen Belt transit – serving as an analog for an intense SPE. Since crew radiation exposure should be As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA) – a guiding principle in radiation protection, the AstroRad must provide crew protection and not impede crew activities. Preliminary CHARGE results will be presented at IAC 2019. AstroRad designers will apply human factors evaluation feedback to improve garment ergonomics and function. CHARGE complements MARE, and designers need data from both tests to define operational use-cases.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-19,A1,5,5,x52629.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.