Space radiation protection: current status and future developments

Because of their origin, cosmic rays are more harmful in space than on Earth. They are either solar particle events or galactic cosmic rays. Therefore, detection of space radiation is mandatory and methods dedicated to protect man against these risks factors or to mitigate them are essential. One can distinguish between passive/active shielding and biological countermeasures. The effectiveness of these methods depends upon the location and duration of the manned space missions. The future spacecrafts/space habitats beyond low Earth orbit (Moon and Mars) necessitate more efficient tools than those developed onboard the International Space Station. New developments for the space exploration would take into account the impacts on diverse living organisms in closed ecological life support systems as well as innovative concepts in the habitat structure for protecting equipment, plants, animals and astronauts.