Evaluation of Superconducting Magnet Shield Configurations for Long Duration Manned Space Missions.

ABSTRACT: A manned mission to Mars would present an important long-term health risk to the crew members due to the prolonged exposure to the ionizing radiation of galactic cosmic-rays. The radiation levels would largely exceed those encountered in the Apollo missions. An increase in the passive shielding provided by the spacecraft implies a significant increase of the mass. The advent of superconducting magnets in the early 1960s was considered an attractive alternative. The technology allows to generate magnetic fields capable to deflect the cosmic-rays in a manner analogous to the reduction of the particle fluxes in the upper atmosphere due to the Earth's dipole magnetic field. A series of the three studies have been conducted over the last 5 years, funded successively by European Space Agency (ES

SUBMITTER: Ambroglini F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4896949 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature