The Russian Segment of the International Space Station is carrying out the "Protective Composite" scientific experiment to test a polymer composite material as a possible protection for astronauts from radiation.
When creating the hulls of manned spacecraft and orbital stations, aluminum is used, which does not protect against neutron radiation arising from the interaction of high-energy particles with metallic materials of spacecraft, but rather generates it. In this regard, for the successful implementation of long-term space flights, highly effective radiation protection is required both for astronauts and for on-board electronic equipment.
Belgorod State Technological University named after V.G. Shukhov together with the Yu.A. Gagarin (part of the Roscosmos State Corporation), a unique polymer composite was developed.
In February 2022, the Progress MS-19 cargo spacecraft delivered two samples of scientific equipment to the ISS, which were placed near the porthole in the left cosmonaut cabin in the Russian service module Zvezda. The scientific equipment includes a cylindrical container made of a polymer composite, inside and outside of which there are detectors for recording the dose from the Earth's radiation belts and galactic cosmic radiation.
In September, the first container was returned to Earth on the Soyuz MS-21 manned spacecraft after six months of exposure, while the second remained in the station cabin for another year. According to the results of ground studies, scientists will conclude that the use of a polymer composite is promising. In addition, it is planned to test it on the outer surface of the ISS in the future.
In December, at the Second Congress of Young Scientists in Sochi, Roscosmos cosmonaut Denis Matveev spoke about the first results of testing a polymer composite on the ISS. “I took (at the station) the cabin of Anton (Shkaplerov), where there was an interesting experiment with a polymer composite made in such a way as to delay radiation ... The data after reading the sensors show that it (the composite) really works. Those detectors that were located inside this polymer composite gained less radiation, ”he said.
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