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Mars’ Regolith Could be Used to Build Astronaut Shelter

The rover “Curiosity” is now working on Mars. NASA also plans to send humans to Mars within the next 20 years. On the flight and during the stay on the Moon or Mars the astronauts have to be protected against long exposure to cosmic radiation that might cause cancer. On behalf of the European Space Agency ESA the GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung GmbH tests whether Moon and Mars regolith can be used to build shielding for ground stations.

On Earth the atmosphere and the magnetic field weaken cosmic rays. But on the Moon and Mars they pelt down unhampered. The cosmic radiation can harm astronauts and could cause cancer in the long run as a result of damage in DNA and cells.

Read more: http://www.laboratoryequipment.com/news/2012/09/mars-regolith-could-be-used-build-astronaut-shelter