Natural Martian surface materials are evaluated for their potential use as radiation shields for manned Mars missions. The modified radiation fluences behind various kinds of Martian rocks and regolith are determined by solving the Boltzmann equation using NASA Langley's HZETRN code along with the 1977 Solar Minimum galactic cosmic ray environmental model. To make structural shielding composite materials from constituents of the Mars atmosphere and from Martian regolith for Martian surface habitats, schemes for synthesizing polyimide from the Mars atmosphere and for processing Martian regolith/polyimide composites are proposed. Theoretical predictions of the shielding properties of these composites are computed to assess their shielding effectiveness. Adding high-performance polymer binders to Martian regolith to enhance structural properties enhances the shielding properties of these composites because of the added hydrogenous constituents. Laboratory testing of regolith simulant/polyimide composites is planned to validate this prediction.
Considerations concerning the development and testing of in-situ materials for martian exploration
1999
14 Seiten, 17 Quellen
Aufsatz (Konferenz)
Englisch
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