Israeli radiation shield could help pave way for safer missions to Moon, Mars
An Israeli-designed radiation vest called AstroRad, tested on NASA's Artemis I mission, has shown potential to reduce radiation exposure for astronauts by up to 60% during solar storms. The vest uses hydrogen-rich materials to protect vital organs during deep space travel.
Why it matters
Advances in radiation protection are critical for the safety of long-term human space exploration missions to the Moon and Mars.
The AstroRAd vest, designed to shield the organs most vulnerable to radiation damage, was tested aboard NASA’s Artemis I mission in late 2022. TPS-IL An Israeli-designed vest could significantly reduce astronauts’ radiation exposure on the way to the Moon or Mars, according to a new study. The vest, called AstroRad and built by the Israeli company StemRad, was tested aboard NASA’s Artemis I mission in late 2022. The findings show that the vest could reduce radiation exposure by as much as 60% percent during a severe solar storm. The vest is designed to shield the organs most vulnerable to radiation damage, including bone marrow, lungs, the stomach, colon, breasts and ovaries, using a dense, hydrogen-rich plastic material arranged in a honeycomb pattern. The tested version weighed about 26 kilograms, roughly 57 pounds.
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