A Force Field for Astronauts?

[IGBT]

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The most common way to deal with radiation is simply to physically block it, as the thick concrete around a nuclear reactor does. But making spaceships from concrete is not an option. (Interestingly, it might be possible to build a moonbase from a concrete mixture of moondust and water, if water can be found on the Moon, but that's another story.) NASA scientists are investigating many radiation-blocking materials such as aluminum, advanced plastics and liquid hydrogen. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages.

 

[BitByBit]

Interesting.
The Earth's magnetic field also acts as a shield from the solar wind, and this can be seen in the form of the Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis.

 

[IEC]

Antimatter force field, anyone? 😉 j/k

Maybe some sort of electrically generated magnetic field would work? Anyone?

 

[Paratus]

Right now the astronauts are treated as radiation workers. Through calculations and measurements the Flight Surgeons determine the crews total exposure and once they reach the limit they are not allowed to fly again. The limits are fairly high and in LEO the crews still protected by the earths magnetic field.

As an example, Segei Krikalev, the current commander of the ISS will take the world recorded for longest time time in space if his expedition completes it's six month rotation. He'll have over two years in space. (Over a year on both the ISS and MIR each) So he hasn't reached his rad exposure limit yet.

When we detect solar flares coming towards the ISS we do safe haven the crew and have them wait it out in the best shielded areas of the station, which is the service module if I remember correctly.

 

[IGBT]

..I recall a cancer cell experiment on one of the shuttle flights and the results were greatly accelerated cell growth in space enviroment. Any body recall that..saw it in a back issue of Avation Week..

 

[Gibsons]

Originally posted by: IGBT
..I recall a cancer cell experiment on one of the shuttle flights and the results were greatly accelerated cell growth in space enviroment. Any body recall that..saw it in a back issue of Avation Week..

There doesn't appear to be anything conclusive from what I've read. Some reports of increased apoptosis (cell death/suicide), changes in cytoskeletal architecture (probably should be expected in microgravity) that perhaps leads to increased cell-cycling, but also prolong mitosis (ie, more cells might be growing, but they're growing more slowly). Most of the work has been done in culture models. Lots of work left to do from what I can tell.