Health, Safety, and Commercial Needs Humans in SpaceRadiation exposure is a real concern.We know from studies that the principal space weather hazard to humans is radiation exposure. For missions that leave low-Earth orbit, the ability to predict solar energetic particle events as the craft passes through the planet's radiation belts is essential. While Earth's atmosphere and magnetosphere allow adequate protection for us on the ground, astronauts in space are subject to potentially lethal dosages of radiation. Although the atmosphere above an aircraft provides a measure of protection from cosmic rays and solar energetic particles that enter the magnetosphere, there is still concern for flights on polar routes during major solar particle events. Intense solar flares release high-energy particles that can be as dangerous to humans as the low-energy radiation from nuclear blasts. Hazards to aircraft can be reduced by changing flight paths as necessary, and by limiting the flight time of...
