VISUAL ARCHIVE / IMAGE STORY
An Astronaut’s Radiation Light Flashes
Energetic particles in deep space can penetrate spacecraft structures and damage living tissue. Astronauts have reported light flashes associated with charged particles interacting with their visual systems, although the radiation itself is ordinarily invisible.
Energetic particles in deep space can penetrate spacecraft structures and damage living tissue. Astronauts have reported light flashes associated with charged particles interacting with their visual systems, although the radiation itself is ordinarily invisible.
THE OBSERVATION
What we can actually see.
Radio messages between Earth and Mars take minutes to travel, with the delay changing along the planets’ orbits. Earth-based specialists can advise a crew, but they cannot remove the propagation delay or provide immediate physical assistance.
THE ILLUSTRATION
What the artwork imagines.
Energetic particles in deep space can penetrate spacecraft structures and damage living tissue. Astronauts have reported light flashes associated with charged particles interacting with their visual systems, although the radiation itself is ordinarily invisible. The selected artwork is a conceptual reconstruction. Viewpoint, lighting and apparent detail are illustrative, not additional measurements or a confirmed photograph of the depicted event.
FROM THE ILLUSTRATED ARTICLE
The story that inspired it.
A crew beyond Earth would depend on local decisions during time-critical emergencies. Signal delay, changing physiology and environmental hazards make medical autonomy a mission-design problem.
Read The First Humans on Mars Will Be Beyond RescueCHECK THE RECORD
The image interprets the research below. Follow the original work for the measurements and limits behind the scene.
Five Hazards of Human Spaceflight Distance From Earth Space Radiation Human Performance Standards Spaceflight-Associated Neuro-ocular SyndromeOTHER IMAGE STORIES
A Crew Far from Earth
Earth in a Martian Evening
The Mark Shared by Titan and Pluto