Superconducting Magnets for Astroparticle Shielding in Interplanetary Manned Missions

The space radiation environment represents a serious problem for long duration interplanetary manned missions. During the last four decades, active magnetic shields have been considered to protect the astronauts against the ionizing radiations of galactic cosmic rays. The previous studies indicate that up to a factor of 10 reduction in the dose could be achieved with a magnetic screen composed of large volume superconducting magnets, which would surround a habitat module of about 300 cubic meters. A screen of this dimension operating in space represents a formidable technological challenge. The choice of a high-temperature superconductor or MgB₂, would avoid the complications of helium cryogenics. The results of preliminary studies to identify the critical aspects and the feasibility of the magnet shield to provide a solution in the near future are reported.