Researchers identify effective materials to protect astronauts from harmful cosmic radiation on Mars

Researchers have identified specific materials, including certain plastics, rubber, and synthetic fibers, as well as Martian soil (regolith), that would effectively protect astronauts by blocking harmful space radiation on Mars. These findings could inform the design of protective habitats and spacesuits, making long-duration missions to Mars more feasible. Because Mars lacks Earth’s thick atmosphere and magnetic field, astronauts exploring the planet would be exposed to dangerous levels of radiation.

Dimitra Atri, a researcher at the Center for Astrophysics and Space Science and leader of the Mars Research Group at the Center for Astrophysics and Space Science at New York University Abu Dhabi, and lead author Dionysios Gakis of the University of Patras in Greece, report the new findings in “Modeling the effectiveness of radiation shielding materials for astronaut protection on Mars,” published in the journal The European Journal of Physics Plus.

Using computer modeling to simulate radiation conditions on Mars, the researchers tested various standard and new materials to see which ones shielded best from cosmic radiation and determined that composite materials like some plastics, rubber, and synthetic fibers would all be effective. Martian soil (regolith) also proved quite effective and could be used as an additional layer of protection.

In addition, they demonstrated that aluminum, the most commonly used, could also be useful when combined with other materials with low atomic numbers. The study also used real data from Mars taken by NASA’s Curiosity rover to confirm these results.

“This advancement improves astronaut safety and makes long-term missions to Mars more realistic,” Atri said. “It supports the future of human space exploration and the potential establishment of human bases on Mars, including the UAE’s Mars 2117 project and its goal of establishing a city on Mars by 2117.”

“Several materials were specifically tested in a simulated Martian environment, making our results directly applicable to future missions and optimizing the combination of advanced materials with the natural resources available on Mars,” Gakis added.