RADIATION

Part 2 One the many benefits of the location of our choice would be the lack of artificial gravity our new lifestyle would require. Even though planet Venus doesn’t present the best living conditions (acidic rain, toxic air) in order to sustain a complex ecosystem, but to our delight, above the cauldron of carbon dioxide, at around 50 km, studies have established that it would be the second best place to live after planet Earth. The gravity at this altitude is almost 91 % of Earth’s; therefore the differences are almost unnoticeable and are subject to disappear alongside evolution. Additionally, its atmospheric pressure is rather similar to the one on Earth and the aerospace provides enough protection from the radiations emitted by the sun. Nonetheless, the fact that we would not need to create a settlement that needs to constantly generate artificial gravity through the consequence of the inertial force, which is centrifugal force, not only will diminish the costs greatly, but also make easier the transition to a new era.

Credit: https://bit.ly/3tZuiWY Credit: https://bit.ly/37e1PCQ Radiation

Earth is protected from radiation (electrically charged particles) coming from the Sun and interstellar space due to its magnetic field that pushes the particles away. If we were to define it, radiation is a type of energy emitted in different forms. In space, it can be seen with human eye, those flashes of light affecting the optical nerve. Moreover, after several studies, scientists reached the conclusion that astronauts are at significant risk because of radiation, having many more chances at being diagnosed with cancer, nervous system effects and degenerative diseases. The amount of radiation an astronaut is exposed to can be compared to a number of 150 to 6000 chest x-rays. Our purpose is to ensure our astronauts’ safety, by finding ways to increase their tolerance to radiation, pressure and temperature variation. When talking about Venus, radiation plays a presiding role in a variety of processes that define the climate of Venus, one of the most distinctive planets in the solar System. Its thick cloud layer, which covers the planet entirely, reflects more than 75% of the incoming solar power back to space, so that the level of energy that Venus absorbs significantly decreases. In 1984, Allen and Crawford came to the conclusion that radiation from the lower atmosphere leaks to space through almost transparent “windows” - spaces between CO2 and H2O absorption bands. Compared to Mars, where its atmosphere can’t filter sun’s rays, a travel to Venus is a bit safer, but it also requires some protective measures against radiation. Earth has as protection a magnetic field, but not Venus. Therefore, when designing our settlement, we have to take into consideration efficient solutions against it. In order to completely understand what are we facing with, we have to determine the level of radiation coming from space and what can we do about it. To detect it, we have to take a test-tube of gel and to compress it so that it is tightly closed and when a radiation flash crosses it, will leave a trace behind, similar to a bubble. Finally, in a week’s time we can figure out the direction it comes from. Throughout the years, there were more solutions proposed.