{"id":208243,"date":"2023-06-28T11:56:48","date_gmt":"2023-06-28T15:56:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?p=208243"},"modified":"2023-08-04T14:53:59","modified_gmt":"2023-08-04T18:53:59","slug":"galactic-cosmic-ray-simulator-brings-space-down-to-earth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/general\/galactic-cosmic-ray-simulator-brings-space-down-to-earth\/","title":{"rendered":"Galactic Cosmic Ray Simulator Brings Space Down to Earth"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>NASA has created a space radiation simulator where researchers can speed up understanding of radiation risks astronauts face, and develop techniques to reduce those risks, as they head to the Moon under the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/artemisprogram\" rel=\"noopener\">Artemis Program<\/a> and prepare for future missions to Mars.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-none \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/beampipe.png\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1456\" height=\"914\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/beampipe.png?w=1456\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"A beam pipe at the NSRL at BNL\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/beampipe.png 1456w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/beampipe.png?resize=300,188 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/beampipe.png?resize=768,482 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/beampipe.png?resize=1024,643 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/beampipe.png?resize=400,251 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/beampipe.png?resize=600,377 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/beampipe.png?resize=900,565 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/beampipe.png?resize=1200,753 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1456px) 100vw, 1456px\" loading=\"eager\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Based on new technology and an innovative design for creating a broad spectrum of galactic cosmic rays (GCRs), the new space radiation simulator was developed through collaborations with world-leading space radiation researchers at NASA\u2019s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/analogs\/nsrl\" rel=\"noopener\">NASA Space Radiation Laboratory<\/a> at Brookhaven National Laboratory in Upton, New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Beyond Earth\u2019s protective magnetosphere, GCRs are an ever-present form of space radiation comprising energetic protons and heavier elements. It is extremely challenging to protect astronauts from GCRs, and exposure is one of the top health risks for deep space missions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s everything you see on the periodic table of elements \u2014 moving through space at high speed and energy,\u201d said Tony Slaba, radiation researcher at Langley. \u201cThe spectrum of particles is very complex, and it covers a broad range of velocities that approach the speed of light. It\u2019s there all the time and the high energies make it almost impossible to shield against.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The GCR simulator uses new technology that allows researchers to test multiple ion beams at one time to accurately represent the radiation conditions that an astronaut is exposed to in a spacecraft. Optimizing the GCR simulation required combining data on environmental space radiation fields with complex computational modeling of how GCRs move through spacecraft and interact with the human body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cPast research had only been able to look at a single ion and the question was, how do you add all of your results together to mimic what actually happens in space,\u201d said Lisa Simonsen, a Langley researcher. \u201cThis technology is a game changer in that we can put those ions together to simulate the actual space radiation environment for experiments and use these results to validate computational models. With all teams using the same composition, we can cross compare between labs and confirm results.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Validating models will help improve risk assessments and develop countermeasures to help keep crew members healthy on their missions and throughout their lives when they return to earth.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-none \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/bnl2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1626\" height=\"1172\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/bnl2.png?w=1626\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Aerial image of NSRL at BNL\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/bnl2.png 1626w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/bnl2.png?resize=300,216 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/bnl2.png?resize=768,554 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/bnl2.png?resize=1024,738 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/bnl2.png?resize=1536,1107 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/bnl2.png?resize=400,288 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/bnl2.png?resize=600,432 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/bnl2.png?resize=900,649 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/bnl2.png?resize=1200,865 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1626px) 100vw, 1626px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>\u201cOur understanding of some health risks in space are still evolving, and the simulator will help us understand the risks more quickly,\u201d Slaba said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Artemis missions to the Moon will help prepare for longer trips to Mars, where a round trip journey may take as long as three years. Longer trips mean higher doses of radiation, and while the risks for cancer are generally understood, other risks such as those to the central nervous system and cardiovascular system are not as well known.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cUnderstanding risks in a relevant environment is essential to validating permissible radiation exposure limits and how to reduce radiation health risks,\u201d Simonsen said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to enabling space exploration, the NASA Space Radiation Laboratory and the technology developed for the GCR simulator also have Earth applications, including space electronics testing for deep space planetary missions and use by the National Cancer Institute in their research on advanced heavy ion therapy to potentially treat cancer patients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAs a biologist I\u2019m interested in how living systems are impacted by space radiation exposure. Now we can take cells and look at what happens when more than one type of ion passes through. Is there 6 times the impact or 16 times?\u201d added Peter Guida, researcher at BNL. \u201cIs there DNA damage, change in gene expression? It\u2019s a marvel the way it works. What would have taken four hours we can now do in two minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>Simonsen, Slaba and their colleagues published their findings in an article available in <a href=\"https:\/\/journals.plos.org\/plosbiology\/article?id=10.1371\/journal.pbio.3000669\" rel=\"noopener\">online release<\/a> through the <a href=\"https:\/\/journals.plos.org\/plosbiology\/\" rel=\"noopener\">PLOS Biology open access journal<\/a>.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NASA has created a space radiation simulator where researchers can speed up understanding of radiation risks astronauts face, and develop techniques to reduce those risks, as they head to the Moon under the Artemis Program and prepare for future missions to Mars. Based on new technology and an innovative design for creating a broad spectrum […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":95,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nasa_hds_core_meta_l10n":"en-US","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_editor":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_contacts":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_topic":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_linked_locations":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_related_articles":[],"hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_id":"","hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_type":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_x":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_y":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_gallery_images":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"news-tags":[],"internal-terms":[],"coauthors":[9520],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"Galactic Cosmic Ray Simulator Brings Space Down to Earth","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/general\/galactic-cosmic-ray-simulator-brings-space-down-to-earth\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/general\/galactic-cosmic-ray-simulator-brings-space-down-to-earth\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":""},"articleSection":"General","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Julia L. Bradshaw"}],"creator":["Julia L. Bradshaw"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"NASA","logo":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/themes\/nasa\/assets\/images\/nasa-logo.svg"},"keywords":["General"],"dateCreated":"2023-06-28T15:56:48Z","datePublished":"2023-06-28T15:56:48Z","dateModified":"2023-08-04T18:53:59Z"},"rendered":"<meta name=\"parsely-title\" content=\"Galactic Cosmic Ray Simulator Brings Space Down to Earth\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-link\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/general\/galactic-cosmic-ray-simulator-brings-space-down-to-earth\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-type\" content=\"post\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-pub-date\" content=\"2023-06-28T15:56:48Z\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-section\" content=\"General\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-tags\" content=\"General\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-author\" content=\"Julia L. Bradshaw\" \/>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/nasa.gov\/p.js"},"read_time":4,"time_ago":"12 months","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/208243"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/95"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=208243"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/208243\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":208246,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/208243\/revisions\/208246"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=208243"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=208243"},{"taxonomy":"news-tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-tags?post=208243"},{"taxonomy":"internal-terms","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal-terms?post=208243"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=208243"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}