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Completed TRL 4 (started at 2, targeting 4)
In support of human spaceflight deeper into the solar system and beyond, it will be necessary to curate solutions for the protection of astronauts from galactic radiation. On Earth, we are protected by the planet’s magnetosphere, a magnetic field that surrounds the planet, produced by a geo-dynamo emanating from the solid magnetic core turning within the liquid mantle. This protection has benefited NASA missions from as early as the Apollo program and as late as the current missions on the International Space Station. That protection experiences a falloff of effectiveness beyond lunar orbit. At present there are no materials available that can effectively block the penetration of cosmic particles without adding large amounts of mass. To combat that issue, alternative solutions must be cultivated. The primary alternative being active radiation shielding, presents a ripe opportunity to better enhance lunar mission and enable Martian missions through the generation of an artificial magnetosphere. In recent years new materials such as superconducting ceramics and small plasma conductors are now widely available to facilitate success in the technology where it wasn’t possible before. These and others allow for the development of the technology where before it may not have been as feasible for spaceflight. To that end, a proof-of-concept technology demonstration will be fabricated to demonstrate the production of an artificial magnetosphere in a controlled lab environment.
Objective: To fabricate a benchtop technology demonstration effectiveness of an artificial magnetosphere system in a directed plasma environment. STMD Capability gap: STMD-ALSHP-010 (Radiation shielding-solar particle events). Mission Pull: Deep space manned missions, Enhancing extended lunar surface manned mission, enabling Martian transit spacecraft, lunar and Martian habitats, Spacecraft in high radiation environment (i.e. Europa missions)
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