This review evaluates shielding effectiveness of materials for space radiation, suggesting improvements for astronaut safety.
To address the challenges in high radiation exposure of astronauts and the potential degradation of key spacecraft components during space missions, this paper reviews the composition of space radiation particles and their shielding mechanisms. Then a systematic overview of the research progress over the past five years on shielding materials for space particle radiation is provided. The state-of-the-art in various material systems and technologies is summarized, including polymers and their composites, hydrides and hydrogen storage materials, metal materials, planetary regolith, as well as shielding structures and protective equipment, with focus on their radiation shielding effectiveness, secondary particle production, lightweight design, and adaptability to the space environment. Finally, this paper outlines the future development trends and discusses the persistent challenges in the field of space radiation shielding materials.
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HAN et al. (2026) studied this question.
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