Physical and biomedical countermeasures for space radiation risk.
Radiation exposure represents a serious hindrance for long-term interplanetary missions because of the high uncertainty on risk coefficients, and to the lack of simple countermeasures. Even if uncertainties in risk assessment will be reduced in the next few years, there is little doubt that appropriate countermeasures have to be taken to reduce the exposure or the biological damage produced by cosmic radiation. In addition, it is necessary to provide effective countermeasures against solar particle events, which can produce acute effects, even life threatening, for inadequately protected crews. Strategies that may prove to be effective in reducing exposure, or the effects of the irradiation, include shielding, administration of drugs or dietary supplements to reduce the radiation effects, crew selection based on a screening of individual radiation sensitivity. It is foreseeable that research in passive and active radiation shielding, radioprotective chemicals, and individual susceptibility will boost in the next years to provide efficient countermeasures to the space radiation threat.
Durante
Marco
M
GSI, Biophysics Department, 1 Planckstrasse, 64291 Darmstadt, Germany. M.Durante@gsi.de
D001260:Ataxia Telangiectasia / Q000235:genetics; D003359:Cosmic Radiation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000379:methods*; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents; D012306:Risk; D013026:Space Flight; D014887:Weather
D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents