Radiation Risks in a Mission to Mars for a Solar Particle Event Similar to the AD 993/4 Event

• Published in: Aerospace
• Main Authors: Fahad A. Zaman, Lawrence W. Townsend, Naser T. Burahmah
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021
• Subjects: space travel; Mars; Martian surface; astronauts; solar particle event; Motor vehicles. Aeronautics. Astronautics; TL1-4050; Arctic; Antarctic; Antarc*
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace8050143; https://doaj.org/article/e7b6d314437445c9a1cf17fb538ab057

Within the past decade, evidence of excess atmospheric <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msup><mrow></mrow><mn>14</mn></msup></semantics></math> C production in tree rings, coupled with an increase in annually resolved measurements of <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msup><mrow></mrow><mn>10</mn></msup></semantics></math> Be in Arctic and Antarctic ice cores, have indicated that an extremely large solar particle event (SPE) occurred in AD 993/4. The production of cosmogenic nuclei, such as <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msup><mrow></mrow><mn>36</mn></msup></semantics></math> Cl in consonance with <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msup><mrow></mrow><mn>10</mn></msup></semantics></math> Be, indicate that the event had a very energetic “hard” particle spectrum, comparable to the event of February 1956. Herein, we estimate the potential radiation risk to male and female crew members on a mission to Mars that would occur from such an SPE. Critical organ doses and effective doses are calculated and compared with NASA space radiation limits for an SPE comparable to the AD 993/4 event, occurring during the transit phase to Mars, or while the crew members are operating on the surface of Mars. Aluminum shielding, similar in thickness to a surface lander, a spacecraft, and a storm shelter area within the spacecraft, are assumed for the transit phase. For surface operations, including the shielding provided by the atmosphere of Mars, shielding comparable to a spacesuit, enclosed rover, and a surface habitat are assumed. The results of our simulations indicate that such an event might have severe consequences for ...