RAPID ASSESSMENT OF RADIOBIOLOGICAL DOSES FOR TERRESTRIAL AND INTERPLANETARY SPACE MISSIONS

This paper presents the doses levels expected in orbits in chart form, covering the range 300-800 km of altitude and 0-90 degrees of inclina tion behind shieldings similar to the Hermes spacecraft and the EVA sp acesuit matter distributions. These charts allow users to rapidly End the radiobiological dose received in the most critical organs of the h uman body either in normal situations or during a large solar event. O utside the magnetosphere, during interplanetary or lunar missions, whe n the dose received during crossing of the radiation belts become negl igible, the dose is due to galactic cosmic rays (GCR) and solar hares. The correct radiobiological assessment of the components of this radi ation field becomes a major problem. On the Moon a permanent ground-ba sed station can be shielded by lunar materials against meteoroids and radiations. The radiobiological hazard, essentially linked to the sola r flare risk during the transfer phase and the extra-station activitie s, may be solved by mission planning. For interplanetary flights the p roblem comes from both increased risk of solar events and from the con tinuous exposure to GCR. These energetic particles cannot be easily st opped by shieldings; cost considerations imply that more effective mat erials must be used. Impact on the vehicle design and the mission plan ning is important.