#cosmic radiation

[everythingdice]

ℂ𝕠𝕤𝕞𝕚𝕔 ℝ𝕒𝕕𝕚𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 ☢️ Test design, uninked.

[biology-geology-beaches-india]

The Science Research Notes of S. Sunkavally, Printed Part, page, 228.

Dates unclear, but certainly between 2006-2012.

[wherepond]

We never went to the moon

Why it's impossible humans landed on the Moon

Join physicist Michio Kaku as he examines one of history's greatest achievements through a scientific lens. In this provocative 2-hour exploration, discover why the 1969 Moon landing seems almost impossible when you analyze the physics, technology, and challenges involved.

Professor Kaku breaks down the extraordinary obstacles NASA faced: navigating with 64KB of computer memory, surviving deadly Van Allen radiation belts, operating in extreme lunar temperatures, and landing with 1960s technology that seems primitive by today's standards.

From radiation exposure to the rocket equation, from the lunar module's fragile design to the psychological pressures on astronauts—every aspect of the Apollo missions pushed the absolute limits of what was physically possible.

But here's the paradox: if it was so impossible, why haven't we gone back in 50 years? Why does modern technology struggle to replicate what we achieved with slide rules and vacuum tubes?

This isn't conspiracy theory—it's hard science examining an almost miraculous achievement and asking the uncomfortable questions about why humanity's greatest triumph remains unrepeated.

Topics covered:

Van Allen radiation belts and cosmic ray exposure The Apollo Guidance Computer's incredible limitations Extreme temperature survival on the lunar surface Why the Saturn V rocket capability was lost Engineering "impossibilities" that somehow worked The lost institutional knowledge of the 1960s

Why returning to the Moon is harder than we think.

Source || Michio Kaku

[learnwithmearticles]

Moon Missions

What’s going on with the moon?

The United States recently had a solar eclipse on April 8th, 2024, and some might be surprised to learn that the moon is, in fact, affected by solar radiation. The charged particles emitted by the sun, called the solar wind, reach the moon with no interruption from its atmosphere, as it has none. It also has no global magnetic field, another layer of protection that Earth does have, in comparison.

The moon does, however, have small areas of magnetic fields. We can see this because these areas remain lighter in photos whereas chemical reactions from radiation darken the unprotected areas.

Fortunately, most of these charged particles cannot pass through the hulls of space stations, so astronauts are safe in orbit. Cosmic rays, made of stronger and faster-moving particles, are more dangerous. Even on Earth, under the atmosphere and magnetosphere, cosmic radiation reaches humans, though not enough to be considered damaging to our health.

A lander and rover launched in 2018 delivered the first measurements of radiation levels on the moon 4. Based on those data, astronauts on the moon can be exposed to up to 150 times higher radiation levels than on Earth.

Radiation is a leading reason for the pause in lunar landing missions. It raises risks of cataracts, heart diseases, radiation illness, cancer, and other ailments. Longer missions, of course, would heavily exacerbate these radiation doses.

Other Health Concerns

Cosmic rays contain High-Energy (HZE) ions. In different exposure such as from nuclear accidents or irradiation therapy, HZE ions have been found to cause dysregulation in the mitochondria and damage to DNA. Because of this, prolonged exposure is linked to health effects often associated with aging, such as hippocampus synapse loss and metabolic disruption caused by damage to mitochondrial DNA.

Long-duration space flights have also been linked to cardiovascular disorders. For astronauts on the Apollo missions, heart attack was “the second leading cause of death” 8. For additional space flights outside of Earth’s magnetosphere, astronauts also had a higher mortality rate due to cardiovascular diseases.

In a previous article, we discussed the relationship between circadian rhythms and health. These rhythms are another thing that space travel can impact, causing sleep and mental health disturbances in astronauts 9.

While various studies are investigating the conditions of these health risks, a current NASA mission is specifically investigating radiation protection.

Long-term Mission

NASA plans on eventually returning to human-manned missions to the moon.

First, they have to address the issues discussed above.

In November of 2022, Artemis I launched with two manikins bearing radiation detectors. From this mission, NASA was able to confirm the success of the intended trajectory, launch of ground systems, and the Orion spacecraft. The radiation results from this mission are still being analyzed.

The Artemis missions are intended to explore more of the moon than ever before, and lay groundwork for eventual missions to Mars.

Artemis II will not launch any earlier than September of 2025. It is planned to last ten days, consist of a 4-person crew, and be a lunar flyby to ensure the proper functioning of the spacecraft’s systems.

It has seemed for years that lunar exploration has halted. Manned missions have indeed been paused, for good reasons. Ensuring the safety of astronauts is a priority, and they face serious health risks even when missions go as expected. But NASA intends to continue exploring space, the moon, and Mars. The current Artemis missions are discovering improved, new ways to ensure the safety of astronauts while making scientific progress.

Additional Resources

1. https://science.nasa.gov/moon/solar-wind/

2. https://phys.org/news/2012-01-solar-flares-astronauts.html

3. https://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/1211/1211.3962.pdf

4. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11214-020-00725-3

5.https://www.nasa.gov/missions/artemis/orion/orion-passengers-on-artemis-i-to-test-radiation-vest-for-deep-space-missions/

6.https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/how-space-radiation-threatens-lunar-exploration-180981415/

7.https://www.nasa.gov/humans-in-space/analysis-confirms-successful-artemis-i-moon-mission-reviews-continue-2/

8.https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/physiology/articles/10.3389/fphys.2020.00955/full

9. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9818606/

[basilthymee]

Thank god I'm not you.

[violet-ram]

Watch out joel *Click image for higher res*

[iseathegalaxy]

can we talk about how there's a lot of *cosmic* radiation in new jersey....

[definegodliness]

Cosmic Radiation

Invisible syllables unnerve and hum In a fury of feverish hesitancy Sadly intimacy dissipates before it's begun Battle of the dragon Lost under desert sun

So sinks the mind in blistering sands Lost in a vortex of time's insignificance Alas, to crack the hourglass is To cause the ruination Of condensation

Then, the grain Of insufferable nothingness Finds itself caught, set in its own stone Its scribbles of madness etched within A slate Atlas carried

Strength and endurance Attempt to shroud Heavy burdens of a titan At the crossroads of cataclysmic collision Astronomy of a falling heart Soul displaced amid galaxies spinning Earth and sky colliding Nothing's left in the wintry garden

Sunset dragon, breathe your fire One more time for the sake of creation Seek the warmth and the glow deep within You who douse soulless dirt In incandescence

Let the earth brim with life once again Then bring evolution to new sentient beings Have them haphazardly frolicking in The virtuous chaos of your Cosmic radiation

Then let creation forge interconnectedness            Betwixt reality and the oases                  Of perpetual dreams

--- Cosmic radiation, a collaborative piece between @followcb and @definegodliness. Thanks for the opportunity, dude!