Comparative analysis among materials for passive shielding in a manned Mars mission

Radiation and associated health risks are some of the major obstacles in a manned mission to deep space. Astronauts are exposed to a range of high energy radiation in outer space due to the absence of a protective layer which leads to severe health issues. Materials used for shielding against these radiations face problems of being bulky or a radioactive generator itself. Following an overview of the radiation types, this study provides a comprehensive analysis of the materials for passive shielding to protect the habitual volume of the spacecraft from various radiations. The design has been implemented with the best possible materials by analyzing certain critical conditions during the flight and the time on Mars. Radiation emerging from the protective layer has also been brought under consideration. A comparison among several currently utilized materials shows liquid hydrogen and hydrogen embedded nanofibers to be the most effective in terms of mass and efficiency, respectively. The analysis also suggests that a combination of these two materials can provide an optimum solution. A special shelter has also been analyzed in case of any sudden hazardous condition. This analysis can pave the way to provide optimum performance for passive shielding in future space expedition.