The next stage of the implementation of the Russian program of scientific and applied experiments begins with the arrival of the Progress MS-19 freight. One of the most important directions of technological and medical and biological research in the near-earth orbit is to search for effective methods of protecting the human body from the influence of space radiation during future manned expeditions beyond the magnetic field of our planet.
Currently, one of the serious problems of the cosmic flight remains a negative impact on the crew of solar and galactic cosmic rays, as well as secondary radiation arising from the contact of high-energy particles with structural elements and materials of spacecraft. This factor acquires a special meaning in the case of long-term expeditions requiring reliable radiation protection of astronauts without increasing the mass and volumetric characteristics of protective agents. Scientific and technical research in this area provided for by the “Long-term program of targeted work planned to the ISS up to 2024” also includes a practical assessment of the stability of promising anti-radiation materials in a long-term orbital flight.
A sample of such a material was developed by Belgorod State Technological University named after V. G. Shukhov with the participation of the Center for the Training of Cosmonauts named after Yu. A. Gagarin for use in the Scientific Equipment “Protective Composite”. The equipment is two sets of styling with dosimeters and containers made from a special polymer composite that does not form a secondary radiation in contrast to the aluminum cosmic sheat.
Experiment “Protective Composite”, which is carried out in conjunction with the National Space Corporation named after S. P. Queen (part of Roscosmos State Corporation), provides for the solution of the following tasks on board the Russian segment of the ICS:
- Registration of the absorbed dose from ionizing radiation both outside the composite container and under its protection;
- Collecting data on the accumulated radiation dose, which passed through the polymer composite of a certain thickness;
- Confirmation of radiation – protective properties of the polymer composite providing the crew radiation safety.
The duration of the target work “Protective Composite” on the ISS is scheduled for one and a half years. After its completion, the results of the experiment will be returned to the Earth to determine the possibility of using a new composite material in the production of protective screens of spacecraft and anti-radiation elements in astronauts suit.