Protons and Space Travel: An Introduction

Abstract

With the launching of the first artificial satellite less than ten years ago, man started toward the penetration of deep space. The balloon and satellite flights which followed this initial venture have yielded valuable information about the nature of the hostile space environment. These deeply penetrating space probes showed conclusively that one of the significant hazards facing the space traveler is ionizing radiation. Fortunately, the early manned flights were not disturbed by high radiation fields because they were made at relatively low altitudes. As progressively longer space flights are made, however, the probability increases that the occupants of the vehicles will receive larger doses of radiation. Because of this situation, the necessity for learning about the biological effects of protons has emerged.