space medicine: Ionizing Radiation

In space the astronauts are exposed to ionizing radiation from particles trapped in the earth's magnetic field, from solar flares, and from the onboard nuclear reactors that help power the spacecraft. This radiation can produce deleterious effects, ranging from nausea and lowered blood count to genetic mutations and leukemia. Protective shielding, shielding chemicals, and careful monitoring of the doses of radiation received by each astronaut have been used to reduce radiation exposure to acceptable levels.

Sections in this article:

• Introduction
• A Closed Environment
• Absence of Day and Night
• Ionizing Radiation
• Inertial Forces
• Weightlessness
• Bibliography

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