When NASA’s Artemis I mission embarked on its journey around the moon in 2022, it carried two torso-shaped dummies named Helga and Zohar. These dummies weren’t astronauts, but they played a crucial role in testing the radiation levels that astronauts would face during future Artemis missions. Now, the German space agency DLR has unveiled the first results from this radiation study, and the news for future moon explorers is promising.
Radiation is a significant concern for space travelers venturing beyond Earth’s protective magnetosphere and the Van Allen belts, which shield us from harmful radiation on the ground. Exposure to this radiation during deep space missions can lead to health problems like cancer and cardiovascular disease. The study, conducted with Helga and Zohar, revealed that radiation exposure within the Orion capsule varied greatly depending on location. Shielded areas provided four times better protection than unshielded areas.
But it’s not just the capsule’s internal environment that matters. The study also emphasized the crucial role of spacecraft orientation. By rotating the Orion capsule 90 degrees during a flyby of the inner Van Allen belt, researchers observed a 50% reduction in radiation exposure. This finding highlights the potential for optimizing spacecraft maneuvers to minimize radiation risks for astronauts.
“This shows us that this flight maneuver can significantly reduce the radiation exposure for the crew. This is also a good sign and confirms the basic suitability of Orion for future spaceflight with astronauts. Our measurement data also provides a solid knowledge base for the design of future missions,” said Thomas Berger of the DLR Institute of Aerospace Medicine.
The two dummies were strategically chosen to simulate human exposure to different radiation levels. Helga represented an unprotected body, while Zohar wore a radiation-shielding vest. While the data from this comparison hasn’t been released yet, researchers are currently analyzing it and expect to share the results soon.
“With radiation monitors placed throughout the Orion capsule, we are gaining valuable insights into how space radiation interacts with the spacecraft’s shielding, the types of radiation that penetrate to reach the human body, and which areas inside Orion offer the most protection. This knowledge is invaluable, as it will allow us to accurately estimate radiation exposure for ESA astronauts before they journey into deep space, ensuring their safety on missions to the Moon and beyond,” said Sergi Vaquer Araujo, lead for the Space Medicine Team.
The research findings have been published in the journal Nature, offering a crucial step towards understanding and mitigating the risks associated with deep space radiation exposure. This research is instrumental in paving the way for safe and successful human exploration beyond low-Earth orbit.
