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Thick GCR Shield

Completed TRL 3 (started at 2, targeting 3)

Description

Insufficient data exist to validate thick shield space radiation exposure predictions. This task seeks to validate the shielding efficiency of spacecraft materials and verify an optimum Galactic Cosmic Ray (GCR) shield thickness needed for minimal mass vehicle design.

Benefits

Identification of optimal GCR shield thicknesses and quantification of the uncertainty associated with shielding efficiency for thick shields will enable minimal mass vehicle design and reduce uncertainty in astronaut risk predictions.

Details

Technology areaHuman Health, Life Support, and Habitation Systems > Radiation > Protection Systems
ProgramGame Changing Development (GCD)
Lead organizationLangley Research Center, Hampton, VA
Start date2014-10-01
End date2018-09-30

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