Bulletin of the American Physical Society
APS April Meeting 2019
Volume 64, Number 3
Saturday–Tuesday, April 13–16, 2019; Denver, Colorado
Session E01: Poster Session I (5:45pm-7:45pm)
5:45 PM,
Saturday, April 13, 2019
Sheraton
Room: Plaza Foyer
Abstract: E01.00025 : MAGNETO-IONIZATION SPACECRAFT SHIELD FOR INTERPLANETARY TRAVEL: CONCEPTUAL DESIGN*
Presenter:
Lórien A MacEnulty
(Drake University)
Authors:
Lórien A MacEnulty
(Drake University)
Trace Johnson
(Drake University)
David Atri-Schuller
(Drake University)
Sean Cusick
(Drake University)
Keegan Finger
(Drake University)
Brandon Lyon
(Drake University)
Daniel Madison
(Drake University)
Molly McCord
(Drake University)
Athanasios N Petridis
(Drake University)
Gavin Menning
(Drake University)
Melanie Schnurr
(Drake University)
William Thomas
(Drake University)
A main issue facing manned interplanetary travel is intense radiation exposure to solar wind and cosmic rays. MISSFIT is dedicated to conceptually developing a shield that combines passive and active shielding similar to Earth’s magnetic field and ionosphere. The system will focus and absorb low-energy particles and deflect high-energy particles. Subgroups are assigned tasks to investigate multiple components of the system including the motion of charged particles in complex magnetic fields, preferable structures of magnetic fields, energy loss in ionization of gases and the composition of solar wind and cosmic rays. Major advancements this year include construction of a program to calculate a magnetic field of variable form and intensity at any point in space around the spacecraft as well as commencement of an experimental analysis of gamma ray attenuation in materials that assert quality radiation protection such as Demron. Other endeavors include incorporation of the Bethe-Bloch equation into previously-constructed code that maps the relativistic trajectory of charged particles in assorted magnetic fields. Upon completion of a conceptual design, funding from NASA to proceed with a technical design will be pursued.
*MISSFIT is funded by the Iowa Space Grant Consortium.
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