Radiation Shielding: The Astronomical Problem of Protecting Astronauts on Mars

Radiation is the biggest roadblock for NASA in sending astronauts to Mars and to explore other parts of the solar system. The moon is close enough to Earth that radiation was not a significant factor in the short-term Apollo missions, but any future missions that stray further from Earth or for longer periods of time will require new radiation shielding techniques. This review explains the different types of radiation that will affect astronauts, the current mitigation techniques, and the new research being done on radiation shielding. More work is needed to find a lightweight, durable material to protect astronauts as they explore increasingly distant parts of the solar system