A Review of Magnetic Shielding Technology for Space Radiation

The space radiation environment outside the protection of Earth’s magnetosphere is severe and difficult to shield against. cumulative effective dose astronauts on a typical Mars mission would likely introduce risk exceeding permissible limits for carcinogenesis without innovative strategies shielding. Damaging cardiovascular central nervous system effects are also expected in these environments. There many potential options advanced shielding mitigation, but magnetic using superconductors offers several distinct advantages including conditions help maintain superconductor’s critical temperature lower mass compared equivalent passive materials. Despite advantages, development technology has remained primarily conceptual stages since introduction idea 1961. Over last decades, experienced periods high low attention by human spaceflight community, leading computational tools with single-use or other limitations non-uniform distribution publications topic over time. Within context surrounding policy environment, this paper reviews summarizes available literature application active protection, identifies challenges, highlights areas future research.