Space Radiation Research Articles

Spaceflight causes strain dependent gene expression changes associated with lipid and extracellular matrix dysregulation in the mouse kidney in vivo.

To explore new worlds we must ensure humans can survive and thrive in the space environment. Incidence of kidney stones in astronauts is a major risk factor associated with long term missions, caused by increased blood calcium levels due to bone demineralisation triggered by microgravity and space radiation. Transcriptomic changes have been observed in other tissues during spaceflight, including the kidney. We analysed kidney transcriptome patterns in two different strains of mice flown on the International Space Station, C57BL/6J and BALB/c. Here we show a link between spaceflight and transcriptome patterns associated with dysregulation of lipid and extracellular matrix metabolism and altered transforming growth factor-beta signalling. A stronger response was seen in C57BL/6J mice than BALB/c. Genetic differences in hyaluronan metabolism between strains may confer protection against extracellular matrix remodelling through downregulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition. We intend for our findings to contribute to development of new countermeasures against kidney disease in astronauts and people here on Earth.

Comparative Evaluation of Two Analytical Functions for the Microdosimetry of Ions from 1H to 238U

The analytical microdosimetric function (AMF) implemented in the Monte Carlo code PHITS is a unique tool that bridges the gap between macro- and microscopic scales of radiation interactions, enabling accurate microdosimetric calculations over macroscopic bodies. The original AMF was published in 2006, based on the results of track structure calculations. Recently, a newer version of the AMF was proposed, incorporating an improved description of the energy loss at the microscopic scale. This study compares the older and the newer AMFs in computing microdosimetric probability distributions, mean values, and the relative biological effectiveness (RBE). To this end, 16000 microdosimetric lineal energy probability density distributions were simulated with PHITS for ions from 1H to 238U over a broad energy range (1–1000 MeV/n). The newer AMF was found to offer superior performance, particularly for very heavy ions, producing results that align more closely with published in vitro clonogenic survival experiments. These findings suggest that the updated AMF provides a more reliable tool for microdosimetric calculations and RBE modeling, essential for ion radiation therapy and space radiation protection.

Investigation of Proton Radiation Effect on Indium Gallium Nitride Light Emitting Diodes

This paper investigates the effects of proton radiation on the electrical and optical properties of InGaN light-emitting diodes (LEDs). InGaN LEDs are known for their high brightness and efficiency, making them useful in various applications. However, they are vulnerable to radiation damage, which can degrade their performance over time. In this study, InGaN LEDs were exposed to proton radiation with the fluences of 1 × 1013 cm-2, 3 × 1013 cm-2 and 3 × 1014 cm-2 and their electrical and optical properties were measured before and after irradiation. Results show that proton radiation causes asignificant increase in the reverse leakage current. The light intensity also increases due to radiation. These changes are attributed to radiation-induced defects created in the LED material. The findings of this study provide important insights into the reliability and durability of InGaN LEDs in space and other radiation environments.

Upregulation of Amy1 in the salivary glands of mice exposed to a lunar gravity environment using the multiple artificial gravity research system.

Introduction: Space is a unique environment characterized by isolation from community life and exposure to circadian misalignment, microgravity, and space radiation. These multiple differences from those experienced on the earth may cause systemic and local tissue stress. Autonomic nerves, including sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves, regulate functions in multiple organs. Saliva is secreted from the salivary gland, which is regulated by autonomic nerves, and plays several important roles in the oral cavity and digestive processes. The balance of the autonomic nervous system in the seromucous glands, such as the submandibular glands, precisely controls serous and mucous saliva. Psychological stress, radiation damage, and other triggers can cause an imbalance in salivary secretion systems. A previous study reported that amylase is a stress marker in behavioral medicine and space flight crews; however, the detailed mechanisms underlying amylase regulation in the space environment are still unknown. Methods: In this study, we aimed to elucidate how lunar gravity (1/6g) changes mRNA expression patterns in the salivary gland. Using a multiple artificial gravity research system during space flight in the International Space Station, we studied the effects of two different gravitational levels, lunar and Earth gravity, on the submandibular glands of mice. All mice survived, returned to Earth from space, and their submandibular glands were collected 2days after landing. Results: We found that lunar gravity induced the expression of the salivary amylase gene Amy1; however, no increase in Aqp5 and Ano1, which regulate water secretion, was observed. In addition, genes involved in the exocrine system, such as vesicle-associated membrane protein 8 (Vamp8) and small G proteins, including Rap1 and Rab families, were upregulated under lunar gravity. Conclusion: These results imply that lunar gravity upregulates salivary amylase secretion via Rap/Rab signaling and exocytosis via Vamp8. Our study highlights Amy1 as a potential candidate marker for stress regulation in salivary glands in the lunar gravity environment.

NASA’s Galactic Cosmic Ray Simulator - Studying the Effects of Space Radiation on Earth

NASA’s Galactic Cosmic Ray Simulator - Studying the Effects of Space Radiation on Earth

Application of Satellite Data for Estimating Rooftop Solar Photovoltaic Potential

Rooftop solar photovoltaics can significantly contribute to global energy transitions by providing clean, decentralized energy without the need for new land, thereby avoiding land-use conflicts. It serves as a valuable complement to other renewable-energy sources and is expected to play a crucial role in future electricity systems. Due to the spatiotemporal variability in the solar radiation on roof surfaces, it is essential to determine the potentials of the rooftop photovoltaics and its variations in specific regions. In Germany, this potential was assessed in 5 km × 5 km zones, as well as at the federal-state and national levels. High-quality satellite and reanalysis data were used to determine the power output of the solar photovoltaics. Additionally, high-resolution (2 m × 2 m) European Settlement Map data, calibrated with solar cadastre data, were utilized to evaluate different scenarios. The results show that the potential is concentrated in larger urban areas and the southwestern part of Germany due to the availability of rooftop space and solar radiation. Overall, the national rooftop areas are substantial across all scenarios, ranging from 2100 to 4500 km2. The applied methods and scenarios provide a straightforward way to reveal the spatiotemporal variability and define realistic ranges of the solar photovoltaic potential without requiring detailed information about each building. However, assessing the rooftop photovoltaic potential remains challenging and uncertain due to the lack of large-scale, high-resolution data on building characteristics and the complexity of the solar radiation distribution in urban environments.

Space radiation testing and thermal cycling of functionally coated Alexandrite laser crystals

We present a space environmental test campaign of functionally coated, high-quality Alexandrite laser crystals developed in the course of the Horizon 2020 project GALACTIC. The campaign comprises gamma and proton irradiation as well as thermal cycling tests. As the result of a detailed qualification procedure consisting of transmittance measurements, LIDT, tape-lift, and functional laser tests in a diode-pumped configuration before and after environmental testing, their suitability for space applications could be demonstrated.

Space radiation damage rescued by inhibition of key spaceflight associated miRNAs

Our previous research revealed a key microRNA signature that is associated with spaceflight that can be used as a biomarker and to develop countermeasure treatments to mitigate the damage caused by space radiation. Here, we expand on this work to determine the biological factors rescued by the countermeasure treatment. We performed RNA-sequencing and transcriptomic analysis on 3D microvessel cell cultures exposed to simulated deep space radiation (0.5 Gy of Galactic Cosmic Radiation) with and without the antagonists to three microRNAs: miR-16-5p, miR-125b-5p, and let-7a-5p (i.e., antagomirs). Significant reduction of inflammation and DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) activity and rescue of mitochondria functions are observed after antagomir treatment. Using data from astronaut participants in the NASA Twin Study, Inspiration4, and JAXA missions, we reveal the genes and pathways implicated in the action of these antagomirs are altered in humans. Our findings indicate a countermeasure strategy that can potentially be utilized by astronauts in spaceflight missions to mitigate space radiation damage.

Telomeric RNA (TERRA) increases in response to spaceflight and high-altitude climbing

Telomeres are repetitive nucleoprotein complexes at chromosomal termini essential for maintaining genome stability. Telomeric RNA, or TERRA, is a previously presumed long noncoding RNA of heterogeneous lengths that contributes to end-capping structure and function, and facilitates telomeric recombination in tumors that maintain telomere length via the telomerase-independent Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres (ALT) pathway. Here, we investigated TERRA in the radiation-induced DNA damage response (DDR) across astronauts, high-altitude climbers, healthy donors, and cellular models. Similar to astronauts in the space radiation environment and climbers of Mt. Everest, in vitro radiation exposure prompted increased transcription of TERRA, while simulated microgravity did not. Data suggest a specific TERRA DDR to telomeric double-strand breaks (DSBs), and provide direct demonstration of hybridized TERRA at telomere-specific DSB sites, indicative of protective TERRA:telomeric DNA hybrid formation. Targeted telomeric DSBs also resulted in accumulation of TERRA foci in G2-phase, supportive of TERRA’s role in facilitating recombination-mediated telomere elongation. Results have important implications for scenarios involving persistent telomeric DNA damage, such as those associated with chronic oxidative stress (e.g., aging, systemic inflammation, environmental and occupational radiation exposures), which can trigger transient ALT in normal human cells, as well as for targeting TERRA as a therapeutic strategy against ALT-positive tumors.

Investigation and improvement of spill quality at XiPAF synchrotron

The Xi’an 200 MeV Proton Application Facility (XiPAF) is a specialized facility designed to simulate space radiation environments. To meet the requirements of space radiation simulation, the proton accelerator must provide a quasi-continuous spill. The facility has achieved this goal by implementing third-order resonance and RF knockout (RF-KO) slow extraction. In this study, the source of the spill ripple at the XiPAF synchrotron was analyzed and a method was developed to calculate the fluctuation ratio of the spill from the spill spectrum. According to the experimental results, the spill quality at XiPAF is mainly affected by the ripple of the magnet power supply. To improve the spill quality, the frequency spectrum of the excitation signal was optimized to suppress the influence of the power supply ripple. We found that the dual-frequency signal, which consists of the two sinusoidal waves corresponding to the extraction and diffusion regions in the third-order resonance, can significantly reduce the influence of the magnet power supply ripple. After adopting the optimized dual-frequency signal, the fluctuation ratio of the spill is reduced from about 0.15 to 0.092 (sample median) at a sampling frequency of 1.24 kHz.

Radiation damage of InGaAs avalanche photodiode under gamma ray irradiation

The γ-ray irradiation characteristics of InGaAs avalanche photodiode (APD) in a space radiation environment have been comprehensively investigated through an in-depth study. The results show that γ-ray can cause the dark current and low frequency noise of InGaAs APD to increase, while the avalanche breakdown characteristics, multiplication gain, spectral response and capacitance of the device are less affected by irradiation, and almost no obvious changes occur, which suggests that these parameters are insensitive to ionizing radiation. In addition, the activation energy of the device under different bias voltages is significantly increased by the ionization damage after irradiation. Finally, the annealing experiments at different temperatures after irradiation were carried out. It is found that the interface state induced by radiation is the main factor leading to the increase of dark current, low frequency noise and activation energy of InGaAs APD. Reducing the interface state can improve the device’s ability to inhibit ionizing radiation damage.

Novel layout technique for single-event transient mitigation by the groove structure

Based on the damage mechanism of single-event transient (SET) in a MOS device, a new irradiated reinforcement uniaxial strained Si Nano NMOSFET device is further proposed, and the new structure device has no effect on the electrical properties of its original structure. Moreover, the new reinforced device of groove structure can efficiently reduce not only charge collection but also SET pulse widths (WSET). Compared with the conventional NMOS and drain-wall structure, we find that the proposed novel layout technique can provide the best benefit of SET mitigation with a small sacrifice in the effective area. Therefore, the successful development of the research results will play a positive role in promoting the theoretical and technological progress of high-performance radiation-resistant core electronic components and lay a foundation and create conditions for their application in space radiation and nuclear radiation.

The Charged Particle Detection System of the SRD Module onboard the China Space Station

The radiation field environment outside the Earth varies greatly with space location and the cycle of solar activity, and the radiation environment near the space station’s orbit is much more complex than that on the Earth’s surface. Various high-energy cosmic ray particles and secondary particles produced by them and the bulkhead of the space station greatly impact the health of astronauts and the working conditions of instruments. Each aircraft is always equipped with some dedicated radiation monitoring instruments to assess the exposure risk for astronauts, and to analyze the causes of instrument failures. The Space Radiation Detector Module (SRDM) is working in the China Space Station (CSS) to measure the radiation environment inside, including two parts: the Charged Particle Detection System (CPDS) and the Neutron Detection System (NDS). The CPDS, which is the main content of this paper, contains a detector unit, that consists of three silicon detectors a BGO calorimeter, and the corresponding readout electronics unit of the detector unit. Ground test results show that the detection system can detect various charged particles from hydrogen to nitrogen ions with an energy resolution of less than 15%. The actual measurement results for a period in orbit show that the main types of charged particles in the cabin are protons and α particles, with measured energies ranging from 0.8 to 265.2 MeV for protons and from 1.0 to 61.6 MeV/A for α particles(where A is the mass number), and linear energy density (LET) range mainly from 1.0 to 612.4 keV/μm. The radiation environment data measured in CSS can provide an important reference value for the exposure risk, life science experiments, and the status of instruments on board.

Alterations in Blood-Brain Barrier Integrity and Lateral Ventricle Differ in Rats Exposed to Space Radiation and Social Isolation.

The proposed Mars missions will expose astronauts to long durations of social isolation (SI) and space radiation (SR). These stressors have been shown to alter the brain's macrostructure and microenvironment, including the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Breakdown of the BBB is linked to impaired executive functions and physical deficits, including sensorimotor and neurocognitive impairments. However, the precise mechanisms mediating these effects remain unknown. Additionally, the synergistic effects of combined exposure to SI and SR on the structural integrity of the BBB and brain remain unknown. We assessed the BBB integrity and morphology in the brains of male rats exposed to ground-based analogs of SI and SR. The rats exposed to SR had enlarged lateral ventricles and increased BBB damage associated with a loss of astrocytes and an increased number of leaky vessels. Many deficits observed in SR-treated animals were attenuated by dual exposure to SI (DFS). SI alone did not show BBB damage but did show differences in astrocyte morphology compared to the Controls. Thus, determining how single and combined inflight stressors modulate CNS structural integrity is crucial to fully understand the multiple pathways that could impact astronaut performance and health, including the alterations to the CNS structures and cell viability observed in this study.

Free electron emission in vacuum assisted by photonic time crystals

The Cerenkov radiation and Smith–Purcell (SP) effect state that free electron emission occurs exclusively in dielectrics when the velocity of the particles exceeds the speed of light in the medium or in the vicinity of periodic gratings close to each other within a vacuum. We demonstrate that free electrons in a vacuum can also emit highly directional monochromatic waves when they are in close proximity to a medium that is periodically modulated temporally, suggesting the existence of the temporal SP effect. The momentum band gaps of time-varying media, such as photonic time crystals (PTCs), create new pathways for the injection of external energy, allowing the frequency, intensity, and spatial distribution of electromagnetic fields to be controlled. Moreover, the PTC substrate enables the conversion of localized evanescent fields into amplified, highly directional propagating plane waves that are only sensitive to the velocity of particles and the modulation frequency, which allows us to observe and utilize Cerenkov-like radiation in free space. Our work presents significant opportunities for the utilization of time-varying structures in various fields, including particle identification, ultraweak signal detection, and improved radiation source design.

Poly(vinyl alcohol) gels cross-linked by boric acid for radiation protection of astronauts

Gels are soft materials composed of hydrophilic polymers cross-linked in water by physical or chemical bonds. Due to their lightweight and water-rich nature, these materials find application in various fields, including the space environment, for radiation protection purposes. In fact, thanks to their high hydrogen content, gels exhibit significant radiation stopping power, resulting in reduced fragmentation of incident particles. This suggests their potential utility in shielding electronic devices and safeguarding astronauts’ health. In this work, cross-linked gels based on poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and boric acid (BA) were fabricated and their properties were investigated using different experimental and modeling techniques. The effect of parameters, such as time and temperature, used for fabricating the PVA/BA gels is assessed. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was employed to evaluate the ability of BA to form hybrid interpolymeric bonds with PVA macromolecules. To understand the thermo-mechanical properties and viscoelastic behavior of these gels, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) in compression mode was performed. The shielding properties were evaluated in different space radiation environments considering galactic cosmic rays, solar particle events, and low earth orbit radiation using deterministic transport codes. The High charge (Z) and Energy TRaNsport (HZETRN) code was employed to create different cross sections as first output for the selected materials, and then, propagate and transport the ionizing radiation inside the materials. The results highlight several advantages of PVA/BA gels fabricated at room temperature without heat treatments. Firstly, the incorporation of BA allows for a slight increase in water content compared to gels produced without the crosslinker. Additionally, an examination of elastic moduli reveals improved mechanical properties exhibiting approximately twice the elastic modulus of PVA gels. Moreover, the analysis of dosimetry quantities suggests that the radiation protection effectiveness of these gels is comparable to that of pure water, while heat-treated PVA/BA gels exhibit a reduced water content resulting in decreased shielding properties and decreased flexibility. Consequently, PVA/BA gels realized at room temperature appear to be the optimal material between PVA gels and the heat-treated counterparts, making them well-suited for integration into astronaut personal protective equipment.

Analysis of the influence of microgravity and space radiation on astronauts’ gene expression: An approach using quantum simulations and fuzzy logic

<img src=” https://s3.amazonaws.com/production.scholastica/article/117460/large/prnano_1292024ga.jpg?1715201784”> An analysis of the effects of microgravity and space radiation on astronauts’ RNA expression has been developed, utilizing data from NASA’s “Cell-Free RNA Analysis of Plasma Samples Collected from Six Astronauts in JAXA Cell-Free Epigenome (CFE) Study.” The project aims to deepen our understanding of how the space environment affects gene expression, particularly in key genes such as ACTB and ACTG1, by employing quantum simulations and unconventional logic, including quantum and fuzzy logic. The results suggest that specific genes like ACTB and ACTG1 undergo significant changes in their expression under these unique conditions. This in-terdisciplinary approach allows for a detailed analysis of gene expression data and explores the potential of emerging technologies in space research and bioinformatics.

Radiation-induced DNA double-strand breaks in cortisol exposed fibroblasts as quantified with the novel foci-integrated damage complexity score (FIDCS)

Without the protective shielding of Earth’s atmosphere, astronauts face higher doses of ionizing radiation in space, causing serious health concerns. Highly charged and high energy (HZE) particles are particularly effective in causing complex and difficult-to-repair DNA double-strand breaks compared to low linear energy transfer. Additionally, chronic cortisol exposure during spaceflight raises further concerns, although its specific impact on DNA damage and repair remains unknown. This study explorers the effect of different radiation qualities (photons, protons, carbon, and iron ions) on the DNA damage and repair of cortisol-conditioned primary human dermal fibroblasts. Besides, we introduce a new measure, the Foci-Integrated Damage Complexity Score (FIDCS), to assess DNA damage complexity by analyzing focus area and fluorescent intensity. Our results show that the FIDCS captured the DNA damage induced by different radiation qualities better than counting the number of foci, as traditionally done. Besides, using this measure, we were able to identify differences in DNA damage between cortisol-exposed cells and controls. This suggests that, besides measuring the total number of foci, considering the complexity of the DNA damage by means of the FIDCS can provide additional and, in our case, improved information when comparing different radiation qualities.

The Deep Space Radiation Probe: Development of a first lunar science payload for space environment studies and capacity building

Regions outside of Low Earth Orbit (LEO, altitudes above approximately 1000 km) are classified as “deep space”, including Medium Earth Orbit (MEO), geostationary orbit (GEO), as well as cislunar and lunar space. The deep space environment poses many challenges for human and robotic exploration, including stronger ionizing radiation fluxes, more extreme temperature variations, as well as limited data downlink volume. With the growth of the rideshare and hosted payload model aboard government and commercial lunar missions, developing the capacity to design and implement payloads and other space avionics for this environment is of increased importance this decade. Utilizing one of the growing number of rideshare opportunities offered by commercial lunar mission providers, National Central University (NCU) has been working on the rapid development of Taiwan’s first scientific payload for lunar lander use, with launch aboard the HAKUTO-R Mission 2 (M2) lander from ispace, inc. scheduled not earlier than Q4 2024. This Deep Space Radiation Probe (DSRP) will provide measurements of radiation dose, dose rate, and single event upset (SEU) rate during the Earth-Moon transit, in lunar orbit, as well as on the lunar surface. DSRP utilizes elements of the on-board computer (OBC) developed and flight qualified aboard the NCU-developed IDEASSat 3U CubeSat mission in 2021, and was developed by a student team, in consultation with experienced engineers from the lunar lander team. In this paper, we will report on the objectives, concept of operation, design, and implementation of the DSRP project. We will also describe the steps taken to facilitate parallel development of the DSRP payload and the HAKUTO-R M2 lander, as well as lessons learned during the design, implementation, and qualification process. The radiation data provided by DSRP will be beneficial for the development of future deep space spacecraft avionics, as well as crewed missions, and will also serve to build the capacity for deep space spacecraft and payload development at NCU.

Performance of laser ion source LION operated at Brookhaven National Laboratory

LION is a laser ion source that has been in operation at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) to provide heavy ions for NASA Space Radiation Laboratory (NSRL) and Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). It is the first laser ion source to supply stable ion beams for a long-term operation for users at a large accelerator facility in the world. LION is located at the upstream end of the heavy ion accelerator complex at BNL and supplies singly charged ion beams of various ion species. LION has been in operation since 2014 and is planned to be upgraded in 2024. This paper summarizes the operational performance achieved by LION.