Radiation shielding estimates for manned Mars space flight

Dudkin, V. E.; Kovalev, E. E.; Kolomensky, A. V.; Sakovich, V. A.; Semenov, V. F.; Demin, V. P.; Benton, E. V.

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NASA NTRS · 20040090399

Radiation shielding estimates for manned Mars space flight

Dudkin, V. E.·Kovalev, E. E.·Kolomensky, A. V.·Sakovich, V. A.·Semenov, V. F.·Demin, V. P.·Benton, E. V.

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Abstract

In the analysis of the required radiation shielding protection of spacecraft during a Mars flight, specific effects of solar activity (SA) on the intensity of galactic and solar cosmic rays were taken into consideration. Three spaceflight periods were considered: (1) maximum SA; (2) minimum SA; and (3) intermediate SA, when intensities of both galactic and solar cosmic rays are moderately high. Scenarios of spaceflights utilizing liquid-propellant rocket engines, low- and intermediate-thrust nuclear electrojet engines, and nuclear rocket engines, all of which have been designed in the Soviet Union, are reviewed. Calculations were performed on the basis of a set of standards for radiation protection approved by the U.S.S.R. State Committee for Standards. It was found that the lowest estimated mass of a Mars spacecraft, including the radiation shielding mass, obtained using a combination of a liquid propellant engine with low and intermediate thrust nuclear electrojet engines, would be 500-550 metric tons.

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Non-NASA Center NASA Program Flight NASA Program Radiation Health NASA Discipline Number 04-10 NASA Discipline Number 00-00 NASA Discipline Radiation Health Radiation Protection/instrumentation/standards/statistics & numerical data Cosmic Radiation Radiation Monitoring/statistics & numerical data Space Flight/instrumentation/trends Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S Mars Risk USSR Forecasting Solar System Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S Human

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Dudkin, V. E., Kovalev, E. E., Kolomensky, A. V., Sakovich, V. A., Semenov, V. F., Demin, V. P., Benton, E. V.. 1992-01-01. Radiation shielding estimates for manned Mars space flight. https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20040090399

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