Space Radiation Dangers in Interplanetary Space and Feasibility of Magnetic Field Shielding
Is this project an undergraduate, graduate, or faculty project?
Undergraduate
group
What campus are you from?
Daytona Beach
Authors' Class Standing
Connor Castleberry, Sophomore Alexander Roberts, Freshman
Lead Presenter's Name
Connor Castleberry
Faculty Mentor Name
Heidi Nykyri
Abstract
In due time, humans will make the dangerous but necessary journeys to other planets, as well as their moons. The physics and environment alone will be overwhelming factors to calculate for. However, unfortunately those aren’t the only aspects that will need to be considered while exploring our solar system. As spaceships travel through space they will (depending on their destination) be exposed to radiation of planetary, solar and galactic sources. Dangerous space weather events, e.g., several tens of MeV-range solar energetic particles, are a serious threat to space travelers. When exploring outside of the protection Earth’s magnetic field provides, scientists must find an innovative way to reflect harmful charged particles from coming into contact with space travelers. In our research project, we study the potential levels of radiation a space traveler could encounter while on their journey and/or inhabiting different planets. After determining the potential harm, they could come into contact with, we then propose a way to mimic Earth’s magnetic field around a spacecraft so when travelers leave the safety of Earth’s magnetosphere, there will still be a way for those dangerous particles to be repelled. Eventually, we hope to invent and engineer a way to complete space travel safely by being able to repel harmful particles space weather events could bring into contact with spacecraft.
Student Research Symposium. Project for Dr. Nykyri’s Space Weather (PS214) class.
Did this research project receive funding support from the Office of Undergraduate Research.
No
Space Radiation Dangers in Interplanetary Space and Feasibility of Magnetic Field Shielding
In due time, humans will make the dangerous but necessary journeys to other planets, as well as their moons. The physics and environment alone will be overwhelming factors to calculate for. However, unfortunately those aren’t the only aspects that will need to be considered while exploring our solar system. As spaceships travel through space they will (depending on their destination) be exposed to radiation of planetary, solar and galactic sources. Dangerous space weather events, e.g., several tens of MeV-range solar energetic particles, are a serious threat to space travelers. When exploring outside of the protection Earth’s magnetic field provides, scientists must find an innovative way to reflect harmful charged particles from coming into contact with space travelers. In our research project, we study the potential levels of radiation a space traveler could encounter while on their journey and/or inhabiting different planets. After determining the potential harm, they could come into contact with, we then propose a way to mimic Earth’s magnetic field around a spacecraft so when travelers leave the safety of Earth’s magnetosphere, there will still be a way for those dangerous particles to be repelled. Eventually, we hope to invent and engineer a way to complete space travel safely by being able to repel harmful particles space weather events could bring into contact with spacecraft.
Student Research Symposium. Project for Dr. Nykyri’s Space Weather (PS214) class.