06/02/2025
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Space is not the safest place. During the spaceflight, both devices and human radiation risk exposure to high levels. Without adequate protection, equipment will malfunction, and astronauts may face serious health risks. A team of researchers at the University of Gent in Belgium is testing the capacity of 3D-crushed hydrogel-a large amount of water that can soak water-to serve as a more effective radiation shield.
Space Risk – Radiation
Space is anything, but powerful streams of high-energy particles, move almost from the speed of light, are thrown by the sun during solar flarers or find their way to our galaxy from powerful explosions in deep places.
On Earth, we are preserved by most parts of cosmic radiation by the atmosphere of our planet and magnetic field. In just one day beyond these protective layers, astronauts are made aware of the radiation obtained on the Earth throughout the year. Explorers also move forward, for example on Mars during future missions, there will be another way to protect themselves from these harmful rays.
Studies have identified water as one of the most suitable materials for radiation preservation. It is relatively dense and contains a lot of hydrogen atoms, which interact with upcoming radiation particles and slow down. However, a free-transmitted water-based radiation has its own challenges of the protection system.
The huge containers embedded in spacesuts can limit the movement of astronauts, uneven water distribution will lead to incomplete protection, and if the container is punctured, water can be leaked – which is especially dangerous in an environment filled with electronics. Can
3D-affected hydrogel space shuttle and astronauts on the moon
In a follow -up study for a successful discovery activity, a research team of Polymer Chemistry and Biometry Group (PBM) at Belgium’s Gent University of Belgian, radiation shields, safe and an alternative material for the use of Superbusorbent Polymer (SAPS) as an alternative material for Is searching More effective than water alone.
SAP is a material that is capable of absorbing its weight in liquid up to several hundred times, such as ‘demons grow’ toys that expand when submerged in water. In his swollen state, SAP is called ‘Hydrogel’.
Hydrogenous
“The beauty of this project is that we are working with a famous technique,” Lenny Van Dele. “Hydrogel is found in many things that we use every day, from contact lens to diaper and sanitary products. Our research group has experience with applications in the medical field – using hydrogel as a soft implants for repairing damaged tissues and organs. ,
Hydrogel’s ability to maintain water creates a suitable radiation protection in spaces used for excess radiation protection (EVA) along with a suitable radiation protection for houses. The water maintained in a hydrogel is not free-free-flow, which allows for equal distribution and safety. This also means that if the patch was punctured, the water will not be leaked, which will provide enough time to the astronauts to get security.
The Malgorzetta Holinska of the European Space Agency’s content, environment and contamination control section states, “The material can also be applied to potentially unseeded missions – in radiation shields for spacecraft, or in the form of water reservoirs Once we have adapted the method of reclaiming water from hydrogel, “the contents, environment and contamination control sections of the European Space Agency.
“Superambasorbant polymers we are using can be processed using many different techniques, which is a rare and profitable quality between polymers,” says Manon Minsart. “Our way of choice is 3D printing, which allows us to make hydrogel in almost any size that we want.”
Space radiation
Project Peter Dabruel’s lead comment: “Light radiation is a continuous search for conservation materials. In our discovery activity we successfully demonstrated that hydrogel is safe to use under space conditions. In this follow -up project, we are applying various techniques to shape the material to shape into the 3D structure and increase the production process, so that we can come about one step to industrialization. ,
