I've been reading up on space radiation and it is an area that has a lot of potential to improve the efficiency and lifetime of space missions. I'm gathering more detailed information so in this discussion, can you please add your thoughts on how we can reduce or counter or use space radiation effects? It is a bit open ended so any or all ideas in any or all components of a mission like satellites, instruments, and astronauts can be listed.
See Chapter by Jerry J. Battista entitled "Radiation Exposure on a Voyage to Mars: All Aboard? in Advances in Medical Physics edited by DJ Godfrey, J Van Dyk, SK Das, BH Curran, AB Wolbarst. Medical Physics Publishing, Madison, WI, 2016.
Managing Radiobiological Challenges during Deep space Missions
DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.23404.64643
You can think of drugs (synthetic or natural) that are radioprotectors or radiomitigators. For radioprotective candidates, the molecules should capture free radicals, having SH in its molecule, and a linear chain of carbons. Some researchers found also a fungus in Chernobyl reactor that shield radiation. I read something also about the use of CRISPR (Cas9) genetic engeneering technology for altering human DNA code, introducing genes confering radioresistance. But I do not know about the ethical issues of doing that. Sometimes I look at science fiction in order to do the science of today. Tartigrades, Deinococcus, are all very readioresistent compared to us. Good luck on your findings.
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