- While outside the protection of Earth's atmosphere, astronauts are subject to high levels of radiation. It stems primarily from cosmic rays, but it can also come in the form of solar protons from the sun.
- Studies published in 1996 by the International Journal of Radiation Biology showed that chromosomal changes in the blood can occur in astronauts with as little as two weeks in space.
- According to a study conducted by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, space radiation targets certain stem cells in the brain necessary for learning and mood control.
- Dr. Sten Odenwald, based on a study by NASA, stated in an education and outreach paper that each astronaut aboard the Space Station receives the equivalent of eight chest X-rays per day, twice as much as the average human on Earth.
- Research conducted by the Aeronautic and Space Engineering Board in 2008 determined a number of considerations regarding the effects of radiation on astronauts. The main question of whether radiation would affect a single system in the body or the whole organism is a strong factor that must be considered when planning trips beyond low Earth orbit.
Features
Time Frame
Significance
Size
Considerations
SHARE
