![]() ![]() ‘We need to be able to forecast solar flare occurrence and the propagation of solar energetic particles in interplanetary space so we can estimate the levels of radiation,’ said Prof. They race through space with such speed that astronauts caught in their path would have little chance of escaping unharmed. Solar energetic particles are surges of intense particle radiation that come from sudden eruptions, or solar flares, on the sun's surface. Daglis, a space radiation expert from the University of Athens, Greece. ![]() ‘Solar energetic particles are the biggest headache to any manned mission to anywhere,’ said Professor Ioannis A. If we realise this project in the 2030s, or earlier, this will be comparable to the Apollo missions or the ISS.’Įven with faster engines, however, extended radiation exposure would remain a critical threat to astronauts’ health. ‘The project is a technology study for different missions. ‘NEP is really the only viable method that can deliver a heavy spacecraft to the outer moons of Jupiter.’ĭr Frank Jansen, senior scientist at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) who is also working on DEMOCRITOS, agrees. ‘Nuclear Electric Propulsion can get to Mars faster than other methods, if the reactor is powerful enough.’ Frédéric Masson, National Centre for Space, France While DEMOCRITOS is not working on developing the technology to such an extent that it could be used for a manned mission to Mars, project coordinator Dr Emmanouil Detsis from the European Science Foundation says the technology could offer capabilities for other missions. ‘You can make our designs bigger and more powerful very easily, there is no change in the technology.’ ‘It is more efficient and safer to send people to Mars with one spacecraft,’ said Masson. Some solutions are to send the fuel separately or to generate it on Mars, but the most secure option is to bring the return propellant with you, which an NEP spacecraft can do. Scientists are still working out how to ensure a spacecraft has enough chemical propulsion to get back into space from the planet’s surface. It would also help to address a major challenge in a crewed mission to Mars – getting home. Thank to its fuel-efficiency, the lower weight-to-capacity ratio of an NEP-powered spacecraft means there would also be more room available for scientific instruments and plants that provide a food source for the astronauts, even compared to other emerging alternatives such as solar cells. ![]() This would most likely be made from graphite as it’s mechanically strong and able to withstand high temperatures. He says that using nuclear energy to power spacecraft is safe because the reactor would be contained in a protective shell. Masson is working on the EU-funded DEMOCRITOS project that aims to improve the scientific understanding of NEP propulsion so that a demonstrator can be developed. However using NEP to get to Mars is some way off, as the technology is still at an early stage. It is one of the most promising technologies for space exploration as it’s cost-effective and has a much greater fuel-efficiency than classic chemical propulsion meaning there is no need to carry large amounts of rocket fuel. NEP works by changing nuclear thermal energy into electrical energy which then powers a propulsion system. ‘Nuclear Electric Propulsion (NEP) can get to Mars faster than other methods, if the reactor is powerful enough.’ ‘It would take six months with classic chemical propulsion (hydrogen and oxygen fuel),’ said Frédéric Masson from France’s National Centre for Space. Now European researchers are addressing these problems by developing faster engines, solar forecasts and better shielding.Īccording to the European Space Agency (ESA), radiation levels are up to 15 times higher in space than on earth, so for astronauts to avoid excessive exposure while travelling to Mars, they will need to get there as fast as possible. ![]()
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