Space/Science — HabitableZone

Space/Science » in reply to Mars Odyssey reveals radiation dose around planet

Re: Mars Odyssey reveals radiation dose around planet
p — (archived)

authors estimate that an astronaut would receive approximately .40 rem per year from the
neutrons aboard a spacecraft like the Odyssey during its flight to the red planet. (For comparison, radiation workers can receive a maximum of 5 rem per year, according to U.S. guidelines).
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But, but, but where's the hysteria we've seen here about the massive radiation doses prohibiting manned spaceflight to Mars? Given uses of a propulsion system like VASIMR, one way trip times of 120 days are feasible. What's a factor of 10x less among friends?

Oh well, guess we'll just hafta settle for hysteria about back contamination from Martian life. If we ignore what we know about biological systems we can pretend it will overwhelm Earth life instead of the much more likely reverse.

-p (goodbye to another boogeyman)

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