What type of radiation are thicker hull materials (passive shielding) proven highly effective against but significantly less effective against GCR heavy ions?
Answer
Lower-energy protons found in SEPs
Passive shielding, which involves increasing the thickness or density of structural materials like spacecraft hulls, is noted to be highly effective at blocking lower-energy radiation components, such as the protons frequently found within Solar Energetic Particles (SEPs). However, this method of defense proves significantly inadequate against the dominant threat in deep space: the highly energetic, multi-charged heavy ions that characterize Galactic Cosmic Rays (GCRs). Because GCRs carry such immense kinetic energy, they can traverse even substantial passive shielding layers, necessitating a reliance on supplementary medical or active protection methods for internal organs like the brain.
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