HEALTH PHYSICS IMPLICATIONS OF SPACE RADIATION FOR ASTRONAUTS

Abstract

Space radiation poses significant health risks to astronauts, including DNA damage, neurodegeneration, cardiovascular effects, and increased cancer risk. This review consolidates current knowledge on space radiation exposure, shielding technologies, and dosimetry techniques. The systematic review followed PRISMA guidelines, analysing 75 studies from Google Scholar, PubMed, and ScienceDirect. The findings highlight that galactic cosmic ray (GCRs), solar particle events (SPEs) and Van Allen Belt Radiation cause complex biological damage, requiring advanced mitigation strategies. Traditional aluminium shielding is inefficient against high-energy cosmic radiation, prompting research into hydrogen-rich polymers, nanomaterials such as boron nitride nanotubes, and in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) using regolith. Active shielding, such as magnetic and electrostatic barriers, remains experimental. Dosimetry advancements, including silicon-based detectors, Timepix pixel technology, Tissue-Equivalent Proportional Counters and AI-driven predictive models, improve radiation monitoring and risk assessment. Despite progress, challenges persist, including uncertainties in biological responses, optimizing shielding solutions, and real-time radiation exposure prediction. Future research should explore personalized medicine for radiation resilience, hybrid shielding approaches, and AI-integrated radiation risk modelling. Ensuring astronaut safety in deep-space missions requires interdisciplinary collaboration in health physics, space medicine, and engineering to develop robust radiation protection strategies.