The latest episode of NASA’s Space to Ground videos, “your weekly update on what’s happening aboard the International Space Station”.
Category Archives: Living in Space
EU project SR2S pursues magnetic radiation shield
I mentioned yesterday that radiation shielding material for in-space transports could one day be supplemented with magnetic shielding. By chance, Universe Today has a post linking to the EU sponsored project – SR2S (Space Radiation Superconducting Shield) – which is investigating the use of toroidal coils with high-temp superconductors for shielding: Can A Mega-Magnetic Field Protect Astronauts From Radiation? – Universe Today.
Here is a video by the project leader:
The site provides this poster:
Click for large image.
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Here is a description of the project on their site:
EU Space Project will allow astronauts to undergo deep space travel
Head of project says shield based on super conducting magnets will protect astronauts.
Head of EU Project Space Radiation Superconductive Shield (SR2S) Professor Roberto Battiston believes that the SR2S project will solve the issue of radiation protection in three years and has called on his fellow academics in space research to develop the technology to allow both male and female astronauts to undertake deep space missions. Battiston believes that there is no reason why space technology cannot be sufficiently developed to allow both genders to withstand a long duration stay in space and thus increasing the number of astronauts available to undertake missions.
Professor Battiston, Project Coordinator of SR2S said “We have already made significant progress since the beginning of the project and believe we will succeed in this goal of solving the radiation protection issue. In the last few months the international teams working at CERN have solved two major technical issues relevant to the superconducting magnets in space (i) how to make very long high temperature superconducting cables join together in a shorter segment without losing the superconducting properties and (ii) how to ensure protection of long high temperature cables from a quench. These developments open the way to larger and more effective space radiation shields and in turn facilitates deep space travel for female astronauts”
The SR2S superconducting shield will provide an intense magnetic field, 3,000 times stronger than the Earth’s magnetic field and will be confined around the space craft. The magnetic fields will extend to about 10 metres in diameter and ionizing particles will be deflected away. Only the most energetic particles will penetrate the superconducting shield but these will contribute the least to the absorbed radiation dose as their flux is negligible. This will address the issue of suitability of people for space travel as it will open up eligibility for space travel regardless of gender.
Professor Battiston continued “This situation is critical. According to our present knowledge only a very small fraction of NASA’s active astronauts are suitable to stay on the ISS for a one year mission regardless of the fact that the exposure to radiation is two times less than the exposure during deep space travel. Researchers must focus on both genders in current and future studies. The next exploration challenges, deep space travel to Near Earth Asteroids and long duration stay on Mars and on the moon, require an effective way to actively shield astronauts.”
The collaborative programme has a specialist team exploring the development of magnetic shield technology based on super conducting magnets to protect astronauts on deep space missions. The development of such technology would help further space science and exploration and enable long human permanence in space, the next stage in space travel, and enable more astronauts to travel, regardless of gender.
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See also EU Space Project Team Announced – SR2S.
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Find more resources about radiation shielding, including electrostatic and magnetic schemes, in the HobbySpace Living in Space section.
ISS astronaut Mike Hopkins space work out demo
Speaking of exercise and diet to prevent bone loss in space, here is a video showing how astronaut Mike Hopkins goes about exercising during his stay on the International Space Station:
Caption:
Astronaut Mike Hopkins, a lifelong athlete, worked closely with his strength and conditioning coach Mark Guilliams to develop these specially-designed workouts in orbit. Shown here, Hopkins is using the Advanced Resistive Exercise Device to perform this challenging workout. (100 Pull Ups, Push Ups, Sit Ups and Air Squats each.)
As part of his mission, Hopkins is a participant in a number of going medical studies and research experiments.
Pro K is one area of research Mike is helping with. For this study, the astronauts eat a low protein diet in an effort to minimize bone mineral loss. This will not only help future astronauts on long duration missions, but given the dietary trends in the U.S., this research will have direct public health significance helping us better understand protein-rich diets. Learn more about Pro K: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/sta…
Numerous benefits are already being realized from space station science such as vaccine development research, imagery that aids disaster relief and farming, and education programs that inspire future scientists, and engineers are just some examples. To learn more about benefits from ISS, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/iss-science
Staying healthy is important for all astronauts going to space, but lifelong fitness is particularly important to Mike. To follow along with his workouts and other Astronaut workouts and activities, check out: http://www.facebook.com/TrainAstronaut
You can follow Astronaut Mike Hopkins on Twitter at: @AstroIllini
Beings are making space liviable
This title is quite misleading: Beings Not Made for Space – NYTimes.com.
Human beings are also not made for living on the sea but we’ve learned how to do it for indefinite periods. We are learning how to live in space as well. For example, the degradation of bone density has long been a serious problem but has indicated in the article is now largely preventable with improved exercise and nutrition regimes.
The eye issue mentioned in the article has only recently started to receive serious research attention and already there are signs that it might be solvable with simple nutritional anti-oxidants: Orbital Samples With Sight-Saving Potential – NASA.
Note that living in space and living in microgravity are not synonymous. I don’t know of any space settlement advocate who has promoted long term residency in microgravity. As the article hints at, habitats in space can rotate to provide spin gravity, which can reduce or eliminate the effects of microgravity. The large wheel-shaped space station seen in the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey is the iconic approach to this.
2001: A Space Odyssey film poster
For long distance transports, a centrifuge could be added to provide some fraction of a G, which should be sufficient to prevent or ameliorate microgravity problems. A recent version of such a vehicle is the Nautilus-X concept, which was designed by Mark Holderman and Edward Henderson of NASA Johnson Space Center. If NASA was not wasting vast amounts of money on SLS/Orion, in-space infrastructure systems like this could be under development today.
Nautilus-X concept for in-space transport.
Radiation protection requires shielding, not magic. Habitats on the Moon or Mars are easily shielded with regolith. In-space transports may not get radiation levels down to that of the earth at sea level but a lot can be done by surrounding living areas with all the water, foodstuffs, equipment, propellants, waste, etc that are coming along on the trip as well. Space transports should be designed from the start with radiation exposure reduction has a key goal. Eventually, material shielding may be supplemented with magnetic shielding as well.
People are almost certainly going to live in space permanently at some point. The human spaceflight programs of today are learning how to make that happen.
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See the HobbySpace Living in Space section for lots of resources on the microgravity health effects, radiation shielding, etc.
Update Jan.31.14: Some comments about this post: Beings Making Space Livable – Transterrestrial Musings
Republic of the Moon and a Brief History of Drinking in Space
The Republic of the Moon exhibition is underway in London until Feb. 2nd includes a number of special events such as A Brief History of Drinking in Space on the last day:
Sun 2 Feb 2014 – 4:30 p.m.
To date, there has been relatively little consumption of alcohol in space and on the Moon, but that could be set to change. With space tourism taking off, new lunar missions on the horizon and manned expeditions aiming further into space – with all its stresses – could a new era of zero gravity libations be next? Join Sam Bompas of Bompas & Parr and David Lane of The Gourmand for a speculative look and the past, present and future of alcohol in space. From Buzz Aldrin’s legendary Holy Communion on the Moon to sherry experiments aboard Skylab and ceremonial ‘vodka’ consumption aboard the ISS, we’ll discuss the secret history of a slightly tipsy space age and ask what role our favourite poison will play in the future colonisation of the moon.
Ticket price includes the chance to sample Bompas & Parr’s unique Parabolic Sherry, created exclusively for super/collider’s POP ROCK MOON SHOP® based on Skylab-era research about alcohol in space.
In the 70s, NASA spent about half a million dollars studying which wines would be the best accompaniment for astronauts’ space food – even commissioning Californian oenologists to recommend the ultimate orbital wine and food pairing. Their suggestion? A medium sherry. It’s high alcohol content means that that it stands up to the violence of blast off and travels well. The choice mirrors sherry’s earlier history as a wine popularised by adventurer Francis Drake and appreciated by the British for centuries due to its robustness in travel.
As bottles aren’t allowed in space for safety reasons, Bompas & Parr’s ultra limited-edition sherry is packaged in a space-worthy plastic pouch ready for extraterrestrial consumption, in moderation.)