Overview
- Researchers tested two female phantoms on NASA’s uncrewed Artemis I mission in 2022, with one phantom (Zohar) wearing the AstroRad vest and the other (Helga) unprotected to collect thousands of dosimeter readings.
- The team published results Wednesday in Science Advances that used those readings plus simulations of historic storms to estimate protection of about 60% dose reduction for a 1972-like event and about 40% for a 1989-like event.
- AstroRad is made from a hydrogen-rich high-density plastic and weighs roughly 26 kilograms per vest, with shielding concentrated over radiation-sensitive organs to cut dose about 30% more than spreading the same material evenly.
- Because Artemis I encountered no major solar particle event, the reported reductions are extrapolated from belt measurements and modeled storms rather than direct exposure to an extreme flare.
- Researchers are now trimming mass, exploring a modular fit for different bodies, and testing 3D printing of recycled polyethylene on the ISS to make the vest lighter and easier to produce for future Moon and Mars crews.