Space Industry and Business News  
SPACE TRAVEL
DLR phantoms undergo fit check in NASA's Orion space capsule
by Staff Writers
Cologne, Germany (SPX) Dec 24, 2019

MARE phantom Helga undergoing vibration testing at DLR Bremen

The intensity of space radiation is much greater outside Earth's protective magnetic field. This causes problems for the human body and represents a challenge for future crewed space missions to the Moon and Mars. The German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum fur Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR) is conducting research to determine the radiation risk for crewed spaceflight. One of the projects that the researchers are carrying out together with NASA, the Israeli Space Agency ISA and the companies Lockheed Martin and StemRad is the Matroshka AstroRad Radiation Experiment (MARE).

In the autumn of 2019, the Principal Investigator (PI) of the MARE project, Thomas Berger from the DLR Institute of Aerospace Medicine, travelled to NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas for the fit check. The Orion technicians rehearsed the installation procedure within the spacecraft using two replicas identical in size and weight to the phantoms Helga and Zohar, which will fly to the Moon. "First of all, they had to test whether they would be able to carry Helga and Zohar in their transport frame through the hatch and into the Orion capsule.

Each phantom weighs 50 kilograms, although the weight of Zohar's AstroRad vest increases this to 76 kilograms. The installation required three or four NASA technicians," explains Berger, a DLR scientist who heads the Radiation Biology Department. "Orion's command capsule is narrow, but it worked well, and the frame, with which the measuring bodies are connected with the spacecraft, also fitted perfectly. Twelve fixing screws were used to anchor the 'passenger seats' firmly to the spacecraft."

The MARE project continues to gain momentum
The fit check in the Orion spacecraft was successful. The vibration tests carried out at the DLR Institute of Space Systems in Bremen, which tested the resilience of the connection between the phantoms and their 'seats' also confirmed the quality for the construction. The Israeli AstroRad radiation protection vest recently arrived at the DLR Institute of Aerospace Medicine in Cologne. The next big step for the MARE team will come in January.

"That is when we will receive a visit from our industrial partner, StemRad, who developed the AstroRad vest. Together we will take a close look at the vest and at Zohar, who is going to wear it during the flight to the Moon. If necessary, we will adjust the vest again to achieve an optimal fit. We will then integrate our own sensors and those developed by our partners and co-investigators into Zohar and Helga. NASA is currently planning Orion's flight to the Moon for autumn 2020, so MARE is on track."

The new generation of DLR Matroshka experiments are female
The Matroshka experiments are examples of phantoms, measurement bodies modelled on the human torso. DLR already has a great deal of experience with these devices. The last time a Matroshka was used was by DLR's aerospace medicine researchers in Cologne. It was installed on the International Space Station (ISS) between 2004 and 2011. Mounted on the outside of the ISS, the phantom collected radiation readings as if it were an astronaut carrying out a spacewalk. The phantom also spent time in the Russian and Japanese parts of the ISS to measure radiation levels at those locations.

The new generation of Matroshkas is modelled on female physiology for the first time. As the number of female astronauts increases, there is an increasing need for data on the effects of prolonged space travel on the female body. The female body is typically more vulnerable to radiation and so different safety parameters apply to female astronauts than to their male counterparts. However, so far there have been no gender-specific studies using measurement bodies in space.

During the flight, Zohar will wear a protective vest, while Helga will be without one. The identical models will gather comparable data sets from beyond low Earth orbit for the first time. A total of over 6000 active and passive sensors are attached to the bodies' exterior and fitted to their interior. The bodies consist of plastics of different densities to simulate the human skeleton and organs at anatomically appropriate positions within the body. After the flight to the Moon, the radiation values measured by both Matroshkas will be compared in order to evaluate the efficacy of the AstroRad protective vest and improve it in future, if necessary.

sThe Orion Artemis I mission and DLR
NASA's goal for the Artemis I mission is to conduct a first unmanned flight of Orion to the Moon, enter orbit and then return to Earth. The duration of the flight will be between 26 and 42 days. The MARE experiment is on board as a secondary or scientific payload. This means that both Matroshka phantoms have to work independently of the spacecraft. From power supply to data storage, all functions are completely independent of Orion itself.

DLR is project lead for MARE, is providing the phantoms and will make all of the necessary adjustments for the experiment and the spaceflight in the Orion capsule. In addition, DLR researchers are constructing the attachment systems for the two phantoms and are responsible for evaluating the data after the landing.

MARE is the largest experiment for determining the radiation exposure of astronauts that has ever left near-Earth orbit. It is an international cooperation between numerous universities and research institutions in Austria, Belgium, Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Greece, Switzerland, Japan and the USA. It will provide fundamental data for estimating the radiation risk for future crewed flights to the Moon.


Related Links
DLR Institute of Aerospace Medicine,
Space Tourism, Space Transport and Space Exploration News


Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only


SPACE TRAVEL
Boeing spacecraft lands in New Mexico after mission cut short
Washington (AFP) Dec 22, 2019
Boeing's new Starliner unmanned spacecraft returned to Earth on Sunday, landing in the New Mexico desert in the United States six days early after a clock problem prevented a rendezvous with the International Space Station. Images broadcast by NASA showed the spacecraft touching down safely in the dark after a descent slowed by three large parachutes. The Starliner capsule was launched Friday from Cape Canaveral, Florida, but shortly after separating from its Atlas V launch rocket, its thrusters ... read more

Comment using your Disqus, Facebook, Google or Twitter login.



Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

SPACE TRAVEL
Capricorn Space and Infostellar cooperate to enable On Demand ground segment services

Shedding light in the dark: radar satellites lead the way

Observing time awarded to prepare for data-rich era in astronomy

Tiny quantum sensors watch materials transform under pressure

SPACE TRAVEL
General Dynamics receives $730M for next-gen satcom system

Airbus' marks 50 years in Skynet secure satellite communications for UK

Lockheed Martin gets $3.3B contract for communications satellite work

GenDyn nets $783M for next-gen Navy MUOS operations

SPACE TRAVEL
SPACE TRAVEL
Satnav watching over rugby players

US Congress green lights India's NavIC as regional satellite navigation system

Russia postpones Glonass-M launch From Plesetsk over carrier problems

China launches two more BeiDou satellites for GPS system

SPACE TRAVEL
The DFG, DLR and the Helmholtz Association enable cutting-edge research for sustainable aviation

Hill Air Force Base receives last of 78 F-35A Lightning II aircraft

Lockheed Martin awarded $18M for F-35 support for Australia, UK, Canada

Battle around Swiss fighter jet purchase plans heats up

SPACE TRAVEL
Scientists see defects in potential new semiconductor

Japan lifts curbs on export of key chip material to S. Korea

Transistors can now both process and store information

A platform for stable quantum computing, a playground for exotic physics

SPACE TRAVEL
NASA Awards Launch Services Contract for Environmental Satellite Mission

Scientists find iron 'snow' in Earth's core

NASA eBook reveals insights of Earth seen at night from space

China releases first 3D images based on Earth observation satellite

SPACE TRAVEL
Spain river littered with dead fish after waste plant fire

India leads world in pollution linked deaths: study

Household dust hosts toxic chemicals from LCD screens

Smog forces schools shut in Iran









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.