Concept Research of Piloted Spacecraft Radiation Protection
- Paper number
IAC-24,E2,1,6,x83373
- Author
Mr. Arturs Korotkijs, Aalto University, Latvia
- Year
2024
- Abstract
The need for efficient radiation protection is actual as never before because space agencies want to send astronauts to the Moon and Mars in the near future. Nowadays passive radiation shielding methods do not provide enough protection for astronauts to ensure their long presence in space, hence advanced concept to mitigate this problem should be found. In a research work concept of active radiation shield has been developed. System uses strong magnetic field, up to 4 T, to deflect incoming particles, hence protecting astronauts from radiation exposure. Developed system has a racetrack configuration where 8 coils winded by magnesium diboride wire are placed around a habitable module. This system has an energy reduction efficiency of 98.8\% in regards to particles which velocity vector is perpendicular to magnetic field lines. Astronauts who are protected by this system will receive only 2.5 times more radiation exposure per day than people living on the Earth, hence they can spend 137 years in space until they will reach lifetime radiation exposure limit of 1 sievert. In the research work preliminary design of the system was made. Structure’s yield stresses and torques were calculated. Based on calculated data, materials for system's structures were also suggested. Moreover, 3-D model was developed to visualize the concept. Power requirement of an active radiation shielding system is 86.35 kW in total. To fulfill power requirements Advanced Stirling Radioisotope Generator with Currium-244 can be used as it poses advantage of high energy density and safety (Currium-244 is almost pure alpha particle emitter). To furthermore improve overall shielding efficiency passive shielding elements are suggested. Carbon fiber reinforced plastic can be used to protect habitable module’s surfaces that are parallel to magnetic field lines and can't be protected by an active shielding method. For cooling purposes Gifford-McMahon cryocoolers are used to cool down coils to 20K as they are light enough. In a folded stage this system has a maximum width of 7.08m and a weight of 21 tons, hence it can be transported to space using SpaceX’s rocket Starship in one piece. Currently, it is hard to make any estimations about total cost of the concept as there is no similar system that was developed before, however raw material cost needed to build the system is about 26 million dollars. This concept can be used, for instance, to protect SpaceX’s rocket Starship crew in a future Mars mission.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-24,E2,1,6,x83373.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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