The research, led by Dimitra Atri from NYU Abu Dhabi's Center for Astrophysics and Space Science, alongside lead author Dionysios Gakis from the University of Patras in Greece, is detailed in the paper titled "Modeling the effectiveness of radiation shielding materials for astronaut protection on Mars," published in The European Physical Journal Plus.
Using computer simulations to replicate Mars' radiation environment, the team evaluated various traditional and novel materials to assess their protective capabilities against cosmic radiation. The study concluded that materials like specific plastics, rubber, and synthetic fibers offer strong protection, with Martian soil (regolith) also providing a useful additional layer. They further noted that aluminum, widely used in space missions, could enhance protection when combined with other low atomic number materials. These findings were corroborated by actual data from NASA's Curiosity rover.
"This breakthrough enhances astronaut safety and makes long-term Mars missions a more realistic possibility," said Atri. "It supports the future of human space exploration and potential establishment of human bases on Mars, including the UAE's Mars 2117 project and its goal of establishing a city on Mars by the year 2117."
"Several materials were specifically tested in a simulated Martian environment, making our results directly applicable to future missions and optimizing the combination of advanced materials with the natural resources available on Mars," Gakis added.
Research Report:Modeling the effectiveness of radiation shielding materials for astronaut protection on Mars
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