Parameterization of solar flare dose

Abstract

A critical aspect of missions to the Moon or Mars is the safety and health of the crew. Radiation in space is a hazard for astronauts, especially high-energy radiation following certain types of solar flares. A solar flare event can be very dangerous if astronauts are not adequately shielded since flares can deliver a very high-dose in a short period of time. The goal of this research was to parameterize solar flare dose as a function of time to see if it was possible to predict the available warning time. This would allow astronauts to take corrective action and avoid receiving a dose greater than the recommended limit set by the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP). No consideration has been given to the design of the adequate shielding to protect against solar flare proton events. Eight flares have been studied covering the period from 1986 to 1994. The results of this research show that the shielding provided by the astronaut's suits is enough to protect them against the solar proton events studied, but in case of a long duration mission to the Moon or Mars or even farther, the accumulated dose due to exposure to successive flares can be a problem. In this case the emphasis should be placed on the ability to predict flares. This is beyond the scope of our research but could represent the goal of future research.