Shielding from Cosmic Radiation: Space Agency Scenario
A graphical representation of the electromagnetic spectrum.Copyright 2021 National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Public Domain
There is increasing interest in human space exploration beyond the Moon’s orbit, such as venturing to Mars. However, the effects of radiation are still a major concern for such travel. Astronauts need shielding from radiation. One testing method is to send materials into near space and measure radiation levels using Geiger counters. Teams of engineers on such projects need to be aware of design constraints, such as budgets, material limitations, and public support. Through role playing and problem solving, the first lesson sets the stage for a friendly competition between groups to design and build a shielding device to protect humans traveling in space. The instructor asks students—how might we design radiation shielding for space travel? Finally, the instructor presents the space agency scenario to students and hands out Arduinos while explaining the scenario, the roles, and the objectives. Students divide into groups and begin the process of forming their agency. Students get to know their partners and counterparts. Both agencies design logos and examine their missions. The computer scientists from each agency learn about Arduinos and basic computer coding.
Engineers use knowledge of cosmic radiation, materials used to block radiation, weight limitation for space travel, and the effects of radiation exposure on the human body when they design shielding. Students play the role of engineers as they design and build shielding. They must keep within budget and make decisions about trade-offs as professional engineers do to stay within budget. When the payload is sent into the upper atmosphere to test its effectiveness, students play the role of engineers as they analyze the data and determine how effectively their shielding functioned.
After this lesson, students should be able to:
- Define different types of radiation, especially those in cosmic rays.
- Explain why shielding from radiation is important for astronauts traveling in space.
- Articulate how their role and responsibilities will contribute to the overall team accomplishing this mission.