Agnirva Space Premier League - Expedition #31841: Building a Personal Force Field: Radiation Shielding for Deep Space Missions

As humanity prepares for long-duration missions to the Moon and Mars, protecting astronauts from deep space radiation becomes a top priority. The experiment titled "PErsonal Radiation Shielding for intErplanetary missiOns"—cleverly abbreviated as PERSEO—aims to solve this issue. Led by Andrea Ottolenghi and Dr. Giorgio Baiocco from the University of Pavia, and developed in collaboration with Thales Alenia Space, this study was carried out during Expeditions 51/52 and 53/54 aboard the ISS. Space radiation, especially galactic cosmic rays and solar energetic particles, can damage cells and increase cancer risks. Traditional spacecraft shielding adds mass, which increases launch costs. PERSEO investigated wearable, flexible shielding materials that could be tailored for individual astronauts. These vests used hydrogen-rich fabrics, effective at deflecting radiation due to hydrogen’s proton-rich structure. The ISS served as the perfect testbed, exposing these materials to a low Earth orbit radiation environment. Sensors measured how well the vest reduced exposure levels compared to unshielded areas. Results showed a promising decrease in radiation dose, supporting the viability of personal shielding solutions. This approach offers a lightweight, customizable layer of protection—ideal for missions beyond Earth’s magnetic field. In essence, PERSEO is helping to design a future where astronauts can safely explore other planets while wearing high-tech suits that act like personal force fields. It’s a critical step toward enabling interplanetary travel.

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