Impact of Spacecraft-Shell Composition on 1 GeV/Nucleon ${}^{56}$Fe Ion-Fragmentation and Dose Reduction

Abstract

Through the use of experimental data and Monte Carlo simulations we investigate the shielding properties of spacecraft-shell compositions exposed to 1 GeV/nucleon <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">56</sup> Fe ions, representative of the worst part of the Galactic Cosmic Ray (GCR) spectrum. Through the use of the Geant4 Radiation Analysis for Space (GRAS) tool, the dose reduction and the <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">56</sup> Fe-fragmentation induced by those structures currently used to protect part of the International Space Station (ISS) or designed for future inflatable habitats, are analyzed. The possible effects on spacecraft electronics are discussed.