Deep-space challenge
The Deep-Space Radiation Challenge
Beyond the shelter of Earth's magnetic field, crews are exposed to a steady sleet of galactic cosmic rays and the sudden violence of solar particle events. This radiation raises long-term cancer risk and can damage the nervous system, and shielding against the most energetic particles is one of the hardest unsolved problems of sending humans to Mars.
Highlights
- ›The hardest unsolved problem of a Mars mission
Systems, programs & concepts
Knowledge connections
- Associated withSpace radiation exposure
- Associated withRadiation Shielding
Sources
The primary and reference sources this topic draws on.
- NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration
Mission data, planetary science, space telescopes, and public-domain imagery.
Most NASA-produced imagery is in the public domain; individual items are checked for usage terms before publication.