Carbon and how to be safe from radiation in space

The effects of radiation in space are generally understood as either ‘single event effects’ – such as rapid bursts of solar radiation passing through a circuit – or gradual effects that become worse over time, such as charged particles accumulating on the surface of a spacecraft.

The potential of carbon nanotubes to help address the radiation issue, discussing how these nanotubes can be developed and configured to maintain their electrical properties and memory, even after being bombarded by significant amounts of radiation, it is a key issue for the coming adventures in the space exploration.

The current researches focus on the use of single-atom-thick carbon nanotubes’ potential to shield field-effect transistors from potentially damaging radiation, and the nanotubes’ capacity to improve the transistors’ energy efficiency versus standard silicon-based versions.

The researchers’ findings suggest that the use of double-shielded carbon nanotube field-effect transistors could lead to the development of next-generation electronics for space exploration, which are more resistant to radiation and therefore more likely to help keep equipment, electronics, and – most importantly – astronauts safe as they continue to explore space.

As efforts continue to explore deeper into space and for longer periods of time, it is imperative that equipment and astronaut safety be prioritized and maintained from launch to return. The protection of vital electronic systems from the effects of radiation remains a key component of this work.

Further readings

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