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A detailed spacesuit computational model is being developed at the Langley Research Center for radiation exposure evaluation studies. The details of the construction of the spacesuit are critical to estimation of exposures and assessing the risk to the astronaut on EVA. Past evaluations of spacesuit shielding properties assumed the basic fabric lay-up (Thermal Micrometeroid Garment, fabric restraints, and pressure envelope) and Liquid Cooling and Ventilation Garment (LCVG) could be homogenized as a single layer overestimating the protective properties over 60 percent of the fabric area. The present spacesuit model represents the inhomogeneous distributions of LCVG materials (mainly the water filled cooling tubes). An experimental test is performed using a 34-MeV proton beam and high-resolution detectors to compare with model-predicted transmission factors. Some suggestions are made on possible improved construction methods to improve the spacesuit’s protection properties.

This report describes the highlights and progress made in a program of measurements studying radiation transport through materials of interest to NASA. All measurements were performed at accelerator facilities, primarily using GCR-like heavy-ion beams incident upon various elemental and composite targets. Both primary and secondary particles exiting the target were measured. The secondary particles include both charged particles and neutrons. These measurements serve as useful benchmarks and input to transport model calculations.