The Development of Materials for Structures and Radiation Shielding in Aerospace

• Author(s): National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA),
• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
• Pages: 28
• ISBN_10: 1721255389
  ISBN_13: 9781721255382
  
• Language: en
• Categories: Reference / Research ,

Description:... Polymeric materials on space vehicles and high-altitude aircraft win be exposed to highly penetrating radiations. These radiations come from solar flares and galactic cosmic rays (GCR). Radiation from solar flares consists primarily of protons with energies less than 1 GeV. On the other hand, GCR consist of nuclei with energies as high as 10(exp 10) GeV. Over 90% of the nuclei in GCR are protons and alpha particles, however there is a small but significant component of particles with atomic numbers greater than ten. Particles with high atomic number (Z) and high energy interact with very high specific ionization and thus represent a serious hazard for humans and electronic equipment on a spacecraft or on high-altitude commercial aircraft (most importantly for crew members who would have long exposures). Neutrons generated by reactions with the high energy particles also represent a hazard both for humans and electronic equipment. Kiefer, Richard L. and Orwoll, Robert A. Langley Research Center