Crewed Missions to Mars: Modeling the Impact of Astrophysical Charged Particles on Astronauts and Their Health

TL;DR

This paper models the radiation exposure astronauts would face on Mars missions, assessing health risks and proposing mitigation strategies using numerical simulations and medical data.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive modeling approach combining radiation measurements and GEANT4 simulations to evaluate astronaut health risks during Mars missions.

Findings

Radiation dose distribution varies across body organs.

Mitigation strategies like shielding and dietary supplements can reduce health risks.

Recommendations for astronaut safety protocols are provided.

Abstract

The impact of exposure to astrophysical ionizing radiation on astronaut health is one of the main concerns in planning crewed missions to Mars. Astronauts will be exposed to energetic charged particles from Galactic and Solar origin for a prolonged period with little protection from a thin spacecraft shield in transit and from the rarefied Martian atmosphere when on the surface. Adverse impacts on astronaut health include, for example, Acute Radiation Syndrome, damage to the nervous system, and increased cancer risk. We rely on medical studies to assess the impact of enhanced radiation dose levels on various physiological systems and the overall health of astronauts. Using a combination of radiation measurements and numerical modeling with the GEANT4 package, we calculate the distribution of radiation dose in various human body organs for various expected scenarios simulated with a model human phantom. We suggest mitigation strategies, such as improved ways of shielding and dietary supplements, and make recommendations for the safety of astronauts in future crewed missions to Mars.