MAGNETO-IONIZATION SPACECRAFT SHIELD FOR INTERPLANETARY TRAVEL: CONCEPTUAL DESIGN

A main issue facing manned interplanetary travel is intense radiation exposure to solar wind and cosmic rays. MISSFIT is dedicated to conceptually developing a shield that combines passive and active shielding similar to Earth’s magnetic field and ionosphere. The system will focus and absorb low-energy particles and deflect high-energy particles. Subgroups are assigned tasks to investigate multiple components of the system including the motion of charged particles in complex magnetic fields, preferable structures of magnetic fields, energy loss in ionization of gases and the composition of solar wind and cosmic rays. Major advancements this year include construction of a program to calculate a magnetic field of variable form and intensity at any point in space around the spacecraft as well as commencement of an experimental analysis of gamma ray attenuation in materials that assert quality radiation protection such as Demron. Other endeavors include incorporation of the Bethe-Bloch equation into previously-constructed code that maps the relativistic trajectory of charged particles in assorted magnetic fields. Upon completion of a conceptual design, funding from NASA to proceed with a technical design will be pursued.