Radiation Shielding Analysis of Martian Regolith Simulant MGS-1 and Polymers

Master thesis (2021)

Authors

K. Johnson Aerospace Engineering

Contributors

A. Menicucci Space Systems Egineering (mentor)
Y. Tang Novel Aerospace Materials - Aerospace Engineering (graduation committee member)
Faculty
Aerospace Engineering, Aerospace Engineering
Copyright: © 2021 Kim Johnson
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Published Date

30-11-2021

Language

English

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Faculty

Aerospace Engineering

Abstract

he radiation shielding capabilities of polymers and Martian regolith simulant MGS-1 are analysed by means of the dose reduction of the absorbed dose radiation quantity. MGS-1 is an analog for Martian surface material while polymers are generally an effective radiation shielding material because of its high hydrogen content. Scenarios of a radiation shield and simplified Martian habitat are defined and simulated in FLUKA. The source of the radiation is a selection of radiation particle types from Galactic Cosmic Rays (GCR) in the Martian environment during a solar minimum, when GCR contributions are largest. Secondary radiation neutrons are substantially the largest contributor to the total flux on Mars, followed by protons, helium and heavy ions.

The density of the MGS-1 shield was found to have a significant influence on the dose reduction while the influence of a polymer layer in a thick MGS-1 shield did not yield beneficial gains in dose reduction. Using a simplified Martian habitat with a 250 cm thick shield resulted in a dose reduction of the selected particles of more than 90%.