Nasa investigates radiation protection

Nasa believes active electrostatic radiation shielding is the best form of radiation protection during long-term missions, according to Daily Tech.

The agency is searching for a potential partner in the development of a proposal for radiation shielding during long-term space flights.

Radiation protection currently used, which is based on materials shielding, has several issues that need to be addressed and improved before it can be utilised in space. A major issue is that current materials shielding does not fully prevent long-term exposure to radiation.

Network World quotes Nasa as saying: "Current conventional radiation protection strategy based on materials shielding alone - referred to as passive radiation shielding - is maturing and any progress using the materials radiation shielding would only be evolutionary (incremental) at best.

“Material shielding would have only limited or no potential for avoiding continuous exposure to radiation. In addition, current material shielding alone for radiation protection for long duration or deep space safe human space missions is prohibitive due to pay load and cost penalties and is not a viable option."

Active radiation shielding has a tremendous benefit of stopping and diverting space radiation from the spacecraft, says Spaceref.

Primary candidates for active shielding include, but are not limited to: confined and unconfined magnetic fields requiring super-conducting magnets, plasma shields, and electrostatic shields.