Magneto-Ionization Spacecraft Shield For Interplanetary Travel (MISSFIT): Biological {\&} Mechanical Models*

When traveling through space more than just radiation damage to the body needs to be addressed, including the collisions of particles with the spacecraft; and the effects of microgravity and artificial gravity on the human body. The mechanical subgroup has developed an exploratory model for the two-dimensional impacts of spherical particles with a membrane to simulate the effects of debris collisions with a spacecraft in transit. Further, the mechanical subgroup is specifically exploring the usage of elastic and superelastic materials for large ionization-gas-containing chambers. The biological subgroup has developed a preliminary model for the one-dimensional flow of blood in the presence of an artificial gravity field that generates a Coriolis force within the vessel. This model is being used to investigate the effects of the Coriolis force on vascular transmural pressures and wall stress, both of which have been shown to result in thickening of the vessel walls and a decrease in inner radius.