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Why do astronauts keep the altitudes beneath the Van Allen radiation belts when doing their space walks?
Astronauts keep their spacewalks beneath the Van Allen radiation belts to minimize exposure to harmful radiation. The belts contain high-energy particles that can pose serious health risks, including increased cancer risk and other radiation-related illnesses. Operating below these belts allows astronauts to conduct their extravehicular activities safely while still ensuring they receive adequate protection from radiation. This careful altitude management is crucial for maintaining astronaut safety during missions.
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How did the Apollo astronauts get past the van Allen belt?
The Van Allen belts are areas of highly charged particles, mainly electrons and protons, but also with smaller amount of alpha particles. The dangers to the craft are in the form of radiation which can interfere with, disrupt and damage sensitive electrical equipment. In some space flights electrical equipment has been turned off whilst passing through the belts in order to prevent damage. Of course, space craft also have built-in screening to minimise radiation risks. To protect astronauts from radiation dangers, spacecraft are fitted with various types of shielding, such as aluminum shielding, and the astronauts also wear protective clothing during this part of their journey. Also the courses/paths were plotted so that the craft would travel through the parts of space where the Van Allen belts are at their thinnest. Despite these precautions, there were and are still serious radiation considerations. Using calculations of the amount of radiation, the actual time spent passing through the belts, and the shielding used by the Apollo crew, scientists reckoned that the Apollo spacecrafts would pass through the Van Allen belts so quickly that space travellers would not receive any significant life or health-threatening levels of exposure to radiation risks during their flights. But the matter is not clear cut. There was and is a risk, even if infinitely small. For example, cancers are caused by cell mutation. And sometimes it takes many years for cancer to become evident in a person exposed to harmful radiation. In the Apollo missions the probability of risk was considered to be so small as to be 'nil' for all practical purposes. Post-flight Developments: In more recent years NASA has reported cases of eye cataracts developing in the majority of astronauts after returning to earth, some within 4 to 5 years of returning, other cases taking 10 or more years to become apparent. Scientists have long known that there is a causal relationship between radiation exposure and cataracts, but whether the astronauts' eye disorders occurred as the direct consequence of passing through the Van Allen belts, or by other radiation in space, or by entirely non-space-flight-related factors is unknown. Summary: The astronauts got through the Van Allen belts by speed, shielding and carefully planned flight paths, but whether they did so without harm has yet to be determined. For more information, see 'Related links' below this box.
What factors would affect an astronaut's survival on the moon?
Food, water, and oxygen, same as on Earth. Temperature control... the PLSS backpacks the Apollo astronauts wore had a sort of high-tech swamp cooler built in. For long lengths of time, radiation becomes a factor. Most radiation in space can be blocked by a spaceship hull, a spacesuit, a few sheets of newspaper, or for that matter, the outer dead layer of the astronaut's skin. But if he is there for say, months, he will be needing better protection. The Apollo astronauts all took less than one rem of radiation exposure on their 9 or 10 day voyage. That's about 1/400 or 1/500 of a lethal dose. If they had stayed, for example, in the thick of the Van Allen radiation belt for a month, they'd probably have been goners. Instead, they zipped through the thin outer edge of it in about an hour. And yet you hear yapping from deliberately uninformed hoaxbuffs who believe Apollo was impossible because they'd have needed six feet of lead for protection!!type your answer heretheir space suits must be pressure controlled and they have oxygen tanks to breath in air for sure
How do astronauts survive radiation on the moon?
The thought that radiation would kill the astronauts on their way to the moon rests on a misunderstanding of radiation in space. It is true that the sun can release intense bursts of radiation, but not all radiation is harmful. Radiation from the sun can be measured in terms of solar particle energies. These range in intensity. The low energy particles, which measure in the thousands of electron volts, can easily be stopped by a space-craft's hull or a space suit. At the other end of the scale, the very high energy particles (over 1000 million electron volts) can pass right through a space-craft and the people on board without actually interacting with their body cells. The most dangerous particle energy level sits somewhere in the middle (in the millions of electron volts). During a solar flare, particles at all energy levels are produced and this can be very dangerous for astronauts. Fortunately, solar flares do not occur everyday and they do not send particles out in all directions.An understanding of radiation in space shows us that an astronaut on a trip to the moon will not necessarily be exposed to dangerous levels of radiation. Of course, this is not to say that there are no risks. A solar flare in the wrong direction could do serious harm to an astronaut. But such flares are not everyday occurrences. Furthermore, being exposed to a high dose of radiation does not guarantee illness, cancer, or death. It merely raises the probability. It is possible for an astronaut to live a long healthy life after being exposed to radiation levels produced during a solar flare.For the Apollo missions specifically:The trajectory of the spacecraft was not a straight line between the earth and the moon. It was arced. They did this in order to avoid the densest area of radiation in the van Allen belts.At the speed the capsule was travelling, the crew spent far less time inside the belts than the amount of time needed to give them a lethal dose.There are different types of radiation, wave and particle. Wave radiation requires the most shielding, sometimes very thick shielding depending on the wavelength (for example, UV radiation is wave radiation, but can be blocked by a thin sheet of plastic like sunglasses, whereas gamma radiation requires several inches of lead). Particle radiation, in comparison, is much easier to shield against. Alpha particles can't even penetrate the top layer of dead skin cells on the human body. Proton and Beta particles can both be shielded against using a centimeter or so High Density Polyethylene (HDPE). Plastic.The Van Allen belts consist primarily of Proton Particle radiation, which, as noted above, can be effectively shielded against using HDPE plastic.The Command Module was built using materials that could shield particle radiationSummary: The mission was planned to go through the weakest, least dense section of radiation, in the shortest amount of time, with shielding built into the module. NASA spent a lot of time and money mitigating the problems presented by the radiation belts. The money was well spent.
What are the astronauts' achievements?
The early Soyuz and Mercury astronauts found out that man could survive in space. That meant eating, sleeping, going to the bathroom, and even manipulating the spacecraft in space. Astronauts on both sides of the Space Race found out in the mid 1960s that man could work outside the spacecraft with proper restraints. Gemini astronauts performed the first rendezvous and docking in space, an important milestone in reaching the moon. The Apollo astronauts achieved the first manned flight to the moon, showing that man can survive a trip through the Van Allen Belt. Apollo 11 showed man could land on the moon and return safely to the earth. Astronauts on Soviet space stations, Mir, Skylab, and the Space Shuttle showed that man can survive in space for months at a time. They also built the International Space Station, and continue making advances in all scientific areas.
Is Ted Allen related to Woody Allen?
Woody Allen is a stage name. His birth name is Allen Stewart Konigsberg.
Why the Van Allen belts are hazardous to astronauts and satellites?
The Van Allen Belts are full of dangerous cosmic radiation. Radiation is harmful to humans and has a tendency to destroy electronic gear.
Is Van Allen radiation dangerous?
Yes, the Van Allen radiation belts can be dangerous for astronauts and satellites in space. The high-energy particles trapped in the Earth's magnetic field can pose a risk of damaging spacecraft electronics and causing health issues for astronauts. Protection measures, such as shielding and monitoring radiation levels, are important when planning space missions.
Do astronauts go through deadly and perilous radiation belts going to the moon?
No, there are no "Radiation belts between the Earth and Moon. However. they do travel through the "Van Allen Belt". this is a "Belt" created by the earth's magnetic field that shields the earth from the some of the ratiation of the Sun and outerspace. Once an astronaut is outside of this "Belt" they are exposed to a higher level of radiation. The Van Allen Belt is highest at the earth's equator and lowest at the earths poles.
How did the Apollo astronauts get past the van Allen belt - slide12?
Their spacecraft was enough to protect them from the Van Allen belt. The radiation they received while going through it was no more than a normal chest x-ray.
Can humans pass through the Van Allen radiation belt?
All of the Apollo astronauts passed through the Van Allen belt in their spacecrafts on their way to the moon. Since the exposure was brief, all were within the limits regarded as safe (Apollo 14 experienced the highest levels). Longer exposure to the radiation would certainly cause harm.
How do the Van Allen radiation belts provide us with magnetic sunscreen?
The Van Allen radiation belts are two zones of charged particles (electrons and protons) held in place by Earth's magnetic field. These belts help protect Earth by trapping and deflecting harmful solar radiation, acting as a magnetic sunscreen that prevents most of the radiation from reaching the Earth's surface. This protection is important for maintaining the safety of astronauts and satellites in space.
What is a result of the deflection of charged particles alarm the van Allen belts?
The deflection of charged particles by the Van Allen belts can cause disruptions to satellites and spacecraft passing through the region. This can lead to communication interference, equipment malfunction, and potential radiation hazards for astronauts.
What are belts of charged particles and high radiation called?
Belts of charged particles and high radiation are known as the Van Allen radiation belts. These belts are located around Earth and consist primarily of electrons and protons trapped by Earth's magnetic field. They play a crucial role in protecting the planet from solar and cosmic radiation, but can also pose risks to satellites and astronauts.
Are van Allen belts hazardous?
Only if you plan to live there for a while :) Are they hazardous, the micro wave above us is for our protection, like the bars on a baby's crib, they keep the baby from falling out, are they Hazardous? only if they are not there! Is the Van Allen Belt hazardous to life? YES!
Cosmic rays trapped in the earth's magnetic field make up?
The Van Allen radiation belts
What happens in the van Allen radiation belts?
radiation gets sent back and fourth.
Where is location of the Van Allen Radiation Belts?
In my house
