Radiation-Shielding Vest Shows Promise for Lunar Astronauts

A new study indicates that a protective vest tested during NASA’s Artemis moon mission could significantly reduce radiation exposure for future lunar astronauts. Researchers observed the vest’s performance during a test on a female manikin orbiting the moon in 2022 as part of the Artemis I mission.

Radiation is a major concern for astronauts aiming to build a moon base. The vest could provide essential protection during intense solar storms, according to the collaborative effort of U.S., German, and Israeli scientists published in Science Advances.

Though Artemis II’s 10-day mission didn’t include the vest due to space constraints, the garment may accompany future lunar missions. Designed to cover vital organs like lungs and stomach during solar events, the vest is particularly important for women, who face increased cancer risks from radiation.

The 2022 Artemis I mission saw two female manikins, Zohar and Helga, travel to the moon. Zohar wore the 57-pound AstroRad vest, a joint innovation by StemRad and Lockheed Martin. Helga, equipped with numerous radiation sensors, flew without a vest to compare exposure differences.

Jordan Houri of StemRad, the study’s lead author, described it as the largest experiment conducted to determine astronaut radiation exposure beyond low-Earth orbit. NASA and other agencies funded the study. Earth’s atmosphere usually protects space travelers from radiation, but Artemis I’s journey through the Van Allen belt allowed analysts to simulate protection levels during historic solar events in 1972 and 1989.

Results showed the vest could reduce radiation by around 60% for a storm as severe as the one in 1972 and by nearly 40% for an event similar to 1989. This reduction is equivalent to avoiding many days of exposure in space.

Upcoming moon bases, with longer missions, increase the likelihood of exposure to hazardous solar storms. Scientists are working to make the vest lighter while maintaining effectiveness and are exploring ways to create radiation shielding using materials already in space.

Zohar and her vest are now exhibited at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The findings might lessen the immediate need for further testing, thanks to the comprehensive data collected from this experiment.