NASA Wants To Change The Way It Protects Astronauts From Radiation

With long-term missions in the pipeline, safety is paramount

- Rahul Rao

Astronauts face constant radiation as particles streaming off the Sun and high-energy cosmic rays bombard their bodies. Left unchecked, radiation can trigger all sorts of health issues, most notably boosting the danger of developing cancer. When NASA plans missions, the agency uses a radiation exposure cap to determine how long astronauts can stay in space. But that cap isn’t equal for all astronauts.