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Scientists working toward a manned Mars mission say they're closing in on a new, high-tech material that can shield astronauts from deadly deep-space radiation. Known as graphite nanofiber, the new material would be much lighter than the dense materials used on Earth as radiation shielding in nuclear power plants.

Nov 17, 2004 - New research has recently begun to examine the use of superconducting magnet technology to protect astronauts from radiation during long-duration spaceflights, such as the interplanetary flights to Mars that are proposed in NASA’s current Vision for Space Exploration.

Radiation Shield Technologies Announces Its New Demron(TM) Product Line MIAMI, Jan. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Radiation Shield Technologies, Inc. (RST) announced today the unveiling of its new Demron(TM) product line, designed specifically for protection against dirty bombs. The line consists of radiation protective tactical vests, suppression blankets and full body suits. The tactical vest protects the wearer's most vital organs from the harmful effects of radiation, allowing a first responder to remain in a contaminated area during an emergency. RST offers a variety of these vests based on the specific radiological threat. The suppression blanket is used to cover an undetonated...

HUNTSVILLE - Scientists at the Marshall Space Flight Center are working on a key problem of sending people on long-term trips into space - protecting them from dangerous doses of radiation. When President Bush announced a new quest to go back to the moon and eventually on to Mars, he noted the dangers space-travelers will face. "The environment of space is hostile to human beings," Bush said. "Radiation and weightlessness pose dangers to human health, and we have much to learn about their long-term effects before human crews can venture through the vast voids of space for months at a...

As the United States considers new goals for NASA after the loss of the Columbia, some space enthusiasts have renewed calls for a mission to Mars. But a team of physicists and biologists here at a laboratory on Long Island is demonstrating that even if the nation wanted to commit to such a goal, it would be far more complex than the Moon mission that gripped the country in the 60's. One reason is radiation, in the form of heavy ions from distant stars, zipping through everything in their path. Others include price, estimated at $30 billion to $60 billion,...

Local researchers develop composite that can shelter astronauts from radiation Researchers in Huntsville may have found a better shield to protect astronauts from cosmic radiation. What's more, the scientists hope their rigid, yet flexible, lightweight material could become the structural skin and walls of spaceships, planet outposts and space stations. "What we are doing here with the radiation study program will affect all other long-term NASA space exploration missions," said Ed Semmes, NASA radiation study program manager at the National Space Science and Technology Center. The NSSTC and Marshall Space Flight Center are working together on the project. "Going anywhere...