Space, with its appearance of vast emptiness, hides a latent danger that astronauts constantly face: the radiation. Despite being located in space, the Earth does not escape the constant shower of radiation from various sources, including the relentless sun and other cosmic sources. Some types of solar radiation, such as ultraviolet rays, reach the Earth’s surface and can cause sunburn.
However, there is even more intense radiation, coming from deep space, that is absorbed or deflected by the magnetic field generated by our planet’s rotating iron core. These phenomena can be observed in the form of majestic auroras in the most northern and southern latitudes of the Earth.
Orbiting space stations, such as the International Space Station (ISS), are located relatively close to Earth and are to some extent protected from cosmic radiation thanks to the influence of the Earth’s magnetic field. But this protection does not extend to astronauts who venture beyond Earth’s orbitlike those who will travel to the Moon or Mars.
The dangers of deep space for DNA
As it explains Slash GearIn deep space, radiation is a constant presence and can pass through the walls of spaceships and penetrate the bodies of the brave travelers who venture inside.
When high-energy particles of this radiation collide with delicate human cells, can cause physical damage to crucial molecules, including DNA itself. Although the human body has the ability to repair DNA damage to some extent, sometimes this process can result in cell death.
In more extreme situations, permanent genetic mutations can arise and be transmitted when cells divide, thus increasing the long-term risk of cancer.
NASA and other space agencies around the world are working tirelessly on methods and technologies to protect astronauts from the harmful effects of radiation on future deep space exploration missions.