Why plastic can protect Astronauts?

Radiation in space is very dangerous for astronauts as it can reach two-thirds of the safe limit that can be tolerated by the human body for the rest of his life. To protect the space explorers, they were riding the rides should be protected with an anti-radiation shield made from special materials.

The researchers team from the University of New Hampshire and the Southwest Research Institute were test the radiation level from fast-moving charged particles or galactic cosmic rays on a moon probe. They installed Cosmic Ray Telescope for the Effects of Radiation (CRaTER) on the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) spacecraft body. Using this equipment, researchers can monitor the durability of various materials in blocking radiation.

Artist's conception of NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter above the Moon. The Cosmic Ray Telescope for the Effects of Radiation (CRaTER) instrument is visible in the center of the image at the bottom left corner of the spacecraft. (Picture from: http://www.nanowerk.com/)

"Plastic is more effective than aluminum to block the radiation," said Gary Zeitlin, a space researchers from the University of New Hampshire in the United States.

Spacecraft are generally made of aluminum. This material was chosen because it is lightweight and sturdy. But Zeitlin findings indicate that this material is less resilient to withstand cosmic rays. In addition to plastic, the researchers also found that materials containing the hydrogen element could be a tough wall to ward off radiation. One such ingredient is water.

At CRaTER also attached material known as plastic imitation network. This material mimics the human muscle tissue that exposed to radiation. The artificial network space proved vulnerable when exposed to radiation of aluminum rather than plastic protected.

The spacecraft that made by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) will monitor the moon surface at an altitude of 50 kilometers from the moon surface. The moon itself does not have an atmosphere, so the astronauts who walked on the surface or in orbit easily exposed to radiation. Without the protection of special material, astronauts will be exposed to radiation, which in turn damage their tissues.

Regulations applicable by NASA states that the astronauts should not be exposed to radiation more than 1,000 millisi-Everts (mSv) for the rest of their life. That high radiation levels associated with increased of the fatal cancer risk by 5%. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | PHYS.ORG | SPACE | ANTON WILLIAM | KORAN TEMPO 4260]

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