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Shields up: New ideas might make active shielding viable


Active shielding was first proposed in the '60s. We’re finally close to making it work.

On October 19, 1989, at 12:29 UT, a monstrous X13 class solar flare triggered a geomagnetic storm so strong that auroras lit up the skies in Japan, America, Australia, and even Germany the following day. This is why the Orion spacecraft that is supposed to take humans on a Moon fly-by mission this year has a heavily shielded storm shelter for the crew. So solving radiation with passive mass won't cut it for longer missions, even using the best shielding materials like polyethylene or water.

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