A cooperative team of scientists from Greece and the United States has identified a range of materials that show promise for shielding against cosmic radiation on missions to Mars. The materials include certain plastics, rubbers, and synthetic fibers, alongside Martian soil, also known as regolith. The findings appear in a peer-reviewed journal from the European Physical Journal Plus (TEPJP) and contribute to the broader effort to protect crew and equipment during future interplanetary exploration .
Because Mars presents a thin atmosphere and lacks a global magnetic field, crews venturing there would face elevated radiation levels. This reality makes effective shielding not just beneficial but essential for mission success and crew safety .
In a series of computer simulations designed to mirror Martian environmental conditions, researchers evaluated a spectrum of conventional and novel shielding materials to determine which formulations best attenuate cosmic radiation. The simulations explored how different material architectures interact with high-energy particles, aiming to optimize protection while considering weight, durability, and feasibility for spaceflight .
Results indicated that composite materials combining plastic, rubber, and synthetic fibers delivered superior shielding performance under Martian-like conditions. The study also confirmed that Martian regolith can contribute meaningfully to radiation attenuation, offering a natural resource that could be leveraged in in-situ construction or shielding strategies on the surface .
Additionally, the researchers found that aluminum, a staple in many shielding designs, remains a valuable component when paired with other low-atomic-number materials. The conclusions were reinforced by cross-referencing real Mars data gathered by NASA’s Curiosity rover, validating the applicability of the simulations to actual planetary environments .
According to the paper’s authors, the tests were conducted under conditions that closely replicate the Martian environment, ensuring that the results can be translated into practical designs for future missions. The authors emphasize that optimizing the mix of modern shielding materials with available Martian resources could streamline mission architectures and enhance crew protection as exploration plans advance .
Earlier assessments in the field have suggested that early crewed Mars missions will be time-limited, with durations not exceeding a month for initial attempts. This projection underscores the importance of deploying efficient, lightweight shielding solutions that maximize protection without imposing excessive mass penalties on spacecraft and habitats .