Considerations for practical dose equivalent assessment of space radiation and exposure risk reduction in deep space

Abstract Shielding from space radiation, especially galactic cosmic rays (GCRs), is a significant safety challenge for future human activities in deep space. In this study, the shielding performances of potential materials [aluminum (Al), polyethylene (PE), and carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP)...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Masayuki Naito, Satoshi Kodaira
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2022-08-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-17079-1
_version_ 1811320771592585216
author Masayuki Naito
Satoshi Kodaira
author_facet Masayuki Naito
Satoshi Kodaira
author_sort Masayuki Naito
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Shielding from space radiation, especially galactic cosmic rays (GCRs), is a significant safety challenge for future human activities in deep space. In this study, the shielding performances of potential materials [aluminum (Al), polyethylene (PE), and carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP)] were investigated using Geant4 Monte Carlo simulation considering two types of biological scale parameters, the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) quality factor (QFICRP) and the plausible biological effectiveness (RBEγacute), for GCRs. The effective dose equivalent was reduced by 50% for QFICRP and 38% for RBEγacute when shielding using 20 g/cm2 of CFRP. A spacecraft made from CFRP will have a better radiation shielding performance than conventional Al-based spacecraft. The contribution of heavy ions for QFICRP based effective dose equivalent was larger by a factor of ~ 3 compared to that for RBEγacute based effective dose equivalent. The shielding materials efficiently reduced the effective dose equivalent due to ions with QFICRP > 3.36 and RBEγacute > 2.26. QFICRP and RBEγacute have advantages and disadvantages in quantifying the dose equivalent of space radiation, and the establishment of a standard parameter specified for a mixed radiation environment occupied by protons and heavy ions is necessary for practical dose assessment in deep space.
first_indexed 2024-04-13T13:05:16Z
format Article
id doaj.art-836489f87318410a8021d7fa25d81601
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2045-2322
language English
last_indexed 2024-04-13T13:05:16Z
publishDate 2022-08-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series Scientific Reports
spelling doaj.art-836489f87318410a8021d7fa25d816012022-12-22T02:45:47ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222022-08-0112111010.1038/s41598-022-17079-1Considerations for practical dose equivalent assessment of space radiation and exposure risk reduction in deep spaceMasayuki Naito0Satoshi Kodaira1National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum Science and TechnologyNational Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum Science and TechnologyAbstract Shielding from space radiation, especially galactic cosmic rays (GCRs), is a significant safety challenge for future human activities in deep space. In this study, the shielding performances of potential materials [aluminum (Al), polyethylene (PE), and carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP)] were investigated using Geant4 Monte Carlo simulation considering two types of biological scale parameters, the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) quality factor (QFICRP) and the plausible biological effectiveness (RBEγacute), for GCRs. The effective dose equivalent was reduced by 50% for QFICRP and 38% for RBEγacute when shielding using 20 g/cm2 of CFRP. A spacecraft made from CFRP will have a better radiation shielding performance than conventional Al-based spacecraft. The contribution of heavy ions for QFICRP based effective dose equivalent was larger by a factor of ~ 3 compared to that for RBEγacute based effective dose equivalent. The shielding materials efficiently reduced the effective dose equivalent due to ions with QFICRP > 3.36 and RBEγacute > 2.26. QFICRP and RBEγacute have advantages and disadvantages in quantifying the dose equivalent of space radiation, and the establishment of a standard parameter specified for a mixed radiation environment occupied by protons and heavy ions is necessary for practical dose assessment in deep space.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-17079-1
spellingShingle Masayuki Naito
Satoshi Kodaira
Considerations for practical dose equivalent assessment of space radiation and exposure risk reduction in deep space
Scientific Reports
title Considerations for practical dose equivalent assessment of space radiation and exposure risk reduction in deep space
title_full Considerations for practical dose equivalent assessment of space radiation and exposure risk reduction in deep space
title_fullStr Considerations for practical dose equivalent assessment of space radiation and exposure risk reduction in deep space
title_full_unstemmed Considerations for practical dose equivalent assessment of space radiation and exposure risk reduction in deep space
title_short Considerations for practical dose equivalent assessment of space radiation and exposure risk reduction in deep space
title_sort considerations for practical dose equivalent assessment of space radiation and exposure risk reduction in deep space
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-17079-1
work_keys_str_mv AT masayukinaito considerationsforpracticaldoseequivalentassessmentofspaceradiationandexposureriskreductionindeepspace
AT satoshikodaira considerationsforpracticaldoseequivalentassessmentofspaceradiationandexposureriskreductionindeepspace