EXPLORING THE HAZARDS OF SPACE RADIATION FOR ASTRONAUTS: CHALLENGES IN ANTICIPATING RISKS THROUGH GROUND-BASED EXPERIMENTS AND POTENTIAL REMEDIES

Abstract

Future expeditions into interplanetary space, especially those destined for the Moon and Mars, will subject astronauts to exceptionally high levels of cosmic radiation. Our understanding of these radiation levels is derived from extensive research spanning many years, supported by instruments in deep space and on the surface of other planets like the Radiation Assessment Detector (RAD). Deployed in space for over a decade, RAD has diligently monitored the radiation environment on the surface of Mars, contributing valuable insights to our understanding of interplanetary radiation exposure. Nevertheless, a notable constraint lies in our ability to fully grasp the risks posed by this radiation to the human body. This challenge stems from the intricate nature of replicating the complex space environment on Earth, the development of sophisticated human phantoms that accurately mimic human organs, and the inherent difficulty in extrapolating human clinical outcomes solely based on animal models or simulation results. As human spaceflight progresses towards success, it is imperative to develop suitable and effective mitigation strategies for upcoming missions. This involves enhancing our understanding ofspace radiation risks to the human body by identifying constraints and devising viable solutions to replicate the space radiation environment on the ground, utilizing existing technologies to closely approximate the reality of space conditions and gain a deeper understanding of human physiology in space. In our ongoing research, we have identified several factors that impede our comprehension of radiation risks for human crews. To address these challenges, we have explored ways to mitigate these limitations, leveraging ground-based experiments. This approach aims to enhance our understanding and better prepare for the complexities associated with human spaceflights in the future.