Studying the Effects of Multi-Layer Shielding in Reducing Space Radiations Exposure of Human and Electrical Components in Space Missions

Abstract

Protection of astronauts and electronic components in satellites and spacecraft against space rays is one of the most important primary requirements in space missions. In this work, the effect of three materials, aluminum, as the most common material, polyethylene and a graded-z structure, in the protection of space radiations has been evaluated. The calculations of the dose caused by these radiations on the human body and a silicon piece have been carried out by MCNPX Monte Carlo code,. The dose caused by cosmic rays has been calculated after applying shields of aluminum, graded-z structure and polyethylene. The results showed that by using polyethylene and about 4.4% increase in weight compared to the aluminum shield, it is possible to reduce the dose caused by photons by more than 50% in the human body and 30% in silicon parts, and the dose caused by protons by about 30%. It cut both for astronauts and electronic components. Graded-z shielding performed very well in the dose attenuation caused by photons, but appeared ineffective in the dose attenuation caused by protons.

Keywords

• biological damage
• space radiation
• mcnpx
• multi-layer shield
• graded-z structure ‎