How to block radiation?

[Urge]

Radiation is often talked about as a obstacle for spacetravel that is not yet completly solved.

Im wondering about what they do about it today, and what kind of technology they are working on. In a book I read that was based on a televisionshow where they went to pluto and back, visiting al the planets along the way (a mix of science fiction and science fact, each planet had its own episode, with lots of info) they had a sort of electromagnetic (my favorite topic it seems:-) shield that blocked a lot, but when they went past the sun at close range in order to gain more speed for the trip to Pluto (As I remembered it) it got to much, and one crewmember got cancer and died.

I have also heard that a unusual effect of space-radiation is that flashes of light sometimes appear, it has to do with some sort of wave-particle that hits the eye (the retina or something)

Here on Earth, I have heard that thick walls of concrete, or a little less thick wall of lead stops the evil gamma-rays (isnt that what most space-radiation is?) but this is perhaps not considered to heavy alternative for spaceships at this time. Is it realy that hard to block radiation? it seems to me like a material that is both dense (like concrete or lead) and light at the same time would be best.

 

[SilentP]

Radiation is often talked about as a obstacle for spacetravel that is not yet completly solved.

Im wondering about what they do about it today, and what kind of technology they are working on. In a book I read that was based on a televisionshow where they went to pluto and back, visiting al the planets along the way (a mix of science fiction and science fact, each planet had its own episode, with lots of info) they had a sort of electromagnetic (my favorite topic it seems:-) shield that blocked a lot, but when they went past the sun at close range in order to gain more speed for the trip to Pluto (As I remembered it) it got to much, and one crewmember got cancer and died.

There was mention in the Mars colonisation thread (should still be on the first or second page of this subforum) about magnetic shielding being used to shield a craft from stellar radiation. The report posted by jeffriestubes8 basically stated that at our current level of tech, we wouldn't be able to power a shield strong enough to protect a ship the size that would be sent on the mission.

I have also heard that a unusual effect of space-radiation is that flashes of light sometimes appear, it has to do with some sort of wave-particle that hits the eye (the retina or something)

I've heard about that phenomena, can't remember what it was called, though what they did do after the astronauts reported it was to study their EVA suit visors under highpowered microscopes, and indeed, they were able to detect incredibly small, high speed impact dents in the visor.

Here on Earth, I have heard that thick walls of concrete, or a little less thick wall of lead stops the evil gamma-rays (isnt that what most space-radiation is?)

If I remember the previously mentioned thread correctly, apparently it's not gamma rays that are the major problem for space travel, though I may be misremembering.

 

[Chaos Descending]

I thought that charges particles were more of a concern in space (apart from the Van Allen belts) than hard photons like gamma radiation, but I could be wrong. Haven't looked that stuff up in a long time.

 

[sojourner]

http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/mars_dangers_040120.html

first hit in google for "radiation in space".

 

[Peter the Younger]

Metamaterials are probably are best bet. Failing that, we will probably have to combine several proposed methods: place the reaction tanks around the crew compartment, and have a magnetic shield powered by a dedicated reactor, and have a small heavily shielded lifeboat. But even if you can withstand most solar flares, there's always going to be some risk from really energetic cosmic rays. Just as some explorers in the Age of Sail were lost in storms or to illness, we will lose some spacefarers to radiation. But that's not a reason not to go.

 

[Australis]

Last year, someone in Misc posted a thread about shields, a type of 'transmitted' shield like the shields in Trek. It would in effect cancel out radiation. Now if we can like the gravity problem (and I really don't think spinning the ship is a great substitute), it's all cruisy, especially for the astromauts, the spacer tourism.

That's all I can remember. I'm too old and too tired to look it up beyond that.

 

[kv1at3485]

Urge, take a look through Atomic Rockets. That should get you started.

 

[Peter the Younger]

Last year, someone in Misc posted a thread about shields, a type of 'transmitted' shield like the shields in Trek. It would in effect cancel out radiation. Now if we can like the gravity problem (and I really don't think spinning the ship is a great substitute), it's all cruisy, especially for the astromauts, the spacer tourism.

That's all I can remember. I'm too old and too tired to look it up beyond that.

Hey, don't get me wrong, I'd love artificial gravity; hell, if we make gravity fields, we probably don't need rockets! But if we wait for that to explore the solar system, we are going to be waiting a long time.

 

[Trekker4747]

Obviously you use a fridge.

 

[Meredith]

Metamaterials are probably are best bet. Failing that, we will probably have to combine several proposed methods: place the reaction tanks around the crew compartment, and have a magnetic shield powered by a dedicated reactor, and have a small heavily shielded lifeboat. But even if you can withstand most solar flares, there's always going to be some risk from really energetic cosmic rays. Just as some explorers in the Age of Sail were lost in storms or to illness, we will lose some spacefarers to radiation. But that's not a reason not to go.

I was going to mention meta-materials as well, Demron is one of them which uses a unique chemical structure to give it near the same blocking powers of a heavy lead vest and yet is one-tenth as thin and far lighter.

I would say they would need to develop an "All-purpose" mesh consisting of several different layers of meta-materials each one blocking a specific range or radiation and then using the walls of inflatable spaceship modules to store both fresh water and waste-water to give an extra degree of protection.

The layers of radiation blocking material could also be incorporated in the cabins of airplanes to reduce radiation loads on air travelers as well if you are asking about spin-offs.

 

[Starbreaker]

Tinfoil hats.

Edit: Oh that's mind control, my bad.

 

[Trekker4747]

No one liked my fridge idea.

 

[Starbreaker]

I got it!

 

[Urge]

I didnt understand the fridge-idea. Would freezing make one more imune to radiation? Sounds cold.

From the meta-material-link:
Over the last several years there has been a surge of interest in artificial materials because of their potential to expand the range of electromagnetic properties in materials.

Does this mean that they perhaps can be used to expand electromagnetism, and make my plan for artificial gravity based on metalic suits and electromagnets work? I ran into problems when some people said that it would be impossible to create a even field, that would have the same 1G downpull on all parts of the metal-suit, from feet to head. Some potential solutions was posted, but if the sentence above means what I think it means, I just need to find a good meta-material.

http://www.trekbbs.com/showthread.php?t=98073

 

[trekkiedane]

I didnt understand the fridge-idea. Would freezing make one more imune to radiation? Sounds cold.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnGuXXGgVq0

 

[sojourner]

I didnt understand the fridge-idea. Would freezing make one more imune to radiation? Sounds cold.

From the meta-material-link:
Over the last several years there has been a surge of interest in artificial materials because of their potential to expand the range of electromagnetic properties in materials.

Does this mean that they perhaps can be used to expand electromagnetism, and make my plan for artificial gravity based on metalic suits and electromagnets work? I ran into problems when some people said that it would be impossible to create a even field, that would have the same 1G downpull on all parts of the metal-suit, from feet to head. Some potential solutions was posted, but if the sentence above means what I think it means, I just need to find a good meta-material.

http://www.trekbbs.com/showthread.php?t=98073

No, it doesn't mean what you think it means.

 

[JustAFriend]

Cheap and easier: Lots of water or ice tanks around the crew compartments.

You need lots of water anyway, may as well do double-duty as shielding.

 

[Trekker4747]

Cheap and easier: Lots of water or ice tanks around the crew compartments.

You need lots of water anyway, may as well do double-duty as shielding.

Wouldn't using or consuming irradiated water be a bad idea?

 

[Davros]

Rad-i-ation, yes indeed. You hear the most outrageous lies about it. Half baked goggle boxxed do gooders telling everybody it's bad for you. Pernicious nonsense!

 

[Jadzia]

Cheap and easier: Lots of water or ice tanks around the crew compartments.

You need lots of water anyway, may as well do double-duty as shielding.

Wouldn't using or consuming irradiated water be a bad idea?

I guess it depends on the kind of radiation. It doesn't always make the absorbing material radioactive. It depends whether the radiation is absorbed into the nuclei of the atoms in the absorbing material.

Neutrons make things radioactive because they impact the nuclei and change it to something unstable (radioactive). But a lot of radiation acts more like microscopic bullets which do damage by ripping through stuff. Eventually they get slowed down, but may destroy various molecules in the process of being slowed down, such as your dna. Once they're slowed down they're harmless. Slowing them down with a water wall is safer than letting your body do it.