Work

Space Environmental Effects on Multifunctional Radiation Shielding Materials

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: The two primary material requirements for a crewed habitat or spacecraft to operate beyond low earth orbit (LEO) include effective radiation shielding against the space radiation and secondary neutron environment and sufficient structural and thermal integrity. In this context it is mandatory to study the effect of long duration space environment on any proposed multifunctional radiation shielding material. In this paper we discuss two radiation shielding composite architectures and their long duration performance in LEO. Samples were flown on NASA's The Materials International Space Station Experiment (MISSE) platform and their structural, optical, and radiation shielding capabilities were characterized pre and post flight. Results showed composite architecture can be key in determining expected damage irrespective of sample placement orientation on the space station. A surface layer with a protective or sacrificial coating can be instrumental in minimizing property degradation even when exposed to orientations with high estimated sun hours and high fluence of atomic oxygen.

Source: Earth and Space Science

DOI: 10.1029/2024ea003681

Authors: Subhayu Sen, John Scott O’Dell, Yongzhe Yan, Lawrence Heilbronn, Haibin Ning, Miria Finckenor, Meghan Carrico, Selvum Pillay

Institutions: Universities Space Research Association, Plasma Processes (United States), University of Alabama at Birmingham, University of Tennessee at Knoxville, Marshall Space Flight Center

Language: English

Topic: Radiation Shielding Materials Analysis

Subfield: Materials Chemistry

Field: Materials Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,410

OpenAlex ID: W4404433465

FWCI: 0.568

Cites: 30

Cited by: 6

Related to: 10