Radiation-shielding composite materials and their methods of manufacture. Such methods may include adding a metal hydride to a hardenable matrix precursor, adding a reinforcing material to the hardenable matrix precursor, and hardening the matrix precursor to form a composite material that incorporates the reinforcing material and the metal hydride in a solid matrix. The resulting radiation-shielding composite materials are configured to attenuate incident radiation, and may be used in the construction of panels, laminate structures, buildings, and aerospace vehicles, among others.

A magnetic shield system for providing human occupants of spacecraft with protection from cosmic and solar radiation using electromagnets or solenoids for generating magnetic fields but which magnetic fields are kept at a sufficient distance from a spacecraft to greatly reduce the interference effect of the magnetic fields on the spacecraft electronic systems. The electromagnets or solenoids are placed at the ends of arms or shafts placed equidistantly from each other and projecting in uniform formation from the body of the spacecraft along the main axis or body of the spacecraft. The electromagnets or solenoids are placed parallel with each other and parallel with the main body of the spacecraft, are in-line with each other and are placed around the exterior of the spacecraft and along the main axis of the body of the spacecraft. Electromagnets may also be placed at the front and back of the spacecraft.

Apparatus, systems, and methods for protecting a vehicle from a radiation source (e.g., the sun) are provided. One apparatus includes a set of first wires and a set of second wires located proximate to the set of first wires. The set of first wires maintains a positive voltage and the set of second wires maintains a negative voltage. The set of first wire and the set of second wires are arranged to generate an electrostatic field (ESF) between the vehicle and the radiation source. A system includes a spacecraft and a field generator that generates an ESF between the spacecraft and a radiation source. A method includes tracking a location of a spacecraft relative to a radiation source and generating an ESF between the spacecraft and the radiation source.

Example aspects of a deployed electromagnetic radiation deflector shield and a method for using a deployed electromagnetic radiation deflector shield are disclosed. The deployed electromagnetic radiation deflector shield can comprise a power supply; and an electromagnet configured to generate a magnetic field to deflect radiation; wherein the deployed electromagnetic radiation deflector shield is deployed at a distance away from one of a spacecraft and a base station to minimize an effect of the magnetic field on the one of the spacecraft and base station.

Disclosed is a modular, human-crewed interplanetary spacecraft that is assembled in cislunar space. It is primarily comprised of a hollowed-out asteroid; five expandable habitation modules, one of which is expanded inside the asteroid cavity; two docking and airlock nodes; two landing craft suitable for exploring celestial bodies; structural support members; truss structures; robotic arms; a propulsion module; and shielding curtains that are filled with pulverized asteroidal material and attached to the truss structure. This configuration provides substantial radiation and meteoroid shielding. Upon completion of their mission, the crew will use the robotic arms to disconnect and mate (1) the asteroid containing the control module, (2) the forward docking and airlock node, and (3) the propulsion module. This crew-return vehicle will return to cislunar space. The remaining expandable modules with trusses, robotic arms, and landing craft will remain in the destination orbit to serve as a space station for future missions.

A protective layer, a cell and a method provide radiation shielding. The cell and the protective layer formed of a plurality of cells provide radiation shielding, such as from protons and alpha particles having dangerously high energy levels, while being more lightweight than a conventional bulk HDPE protective layer. In the context of a protective layer, the protective layer includes a plurality of cells positioned proximate one another. The plurality of cells include at least a first cell. The first cell includes a cell body formed of an insulative material and extends between opposed first and second ends. The first cell also includes a conductive spherical portion proximate the first end of the cell body and an electrode disposed interior of the conductive spherical portion.

This new and useful invention provides personnel and equipment protection from radiation threats in space. It supplements or replaces current board radiation shielding of spacecraft. and is a scalable individual space borne enclosure (or system of enclosures) large enough to enclose various manned spacecraft types. This enclosure, which is comprised of proven radiation shielding material like hydrogen rich polyethylene, is deployable from the Earth's surface into an elliptical orbit around the Earth or other planetary bodies with a perigee in LEO and its apogee substantially above the Earth's Van Allen Radiation Belts.

The inventions functionality is that spacecraft which must traverse the Earth's Van Allen Radiation Belts may match orbits with and dock inside the enclosure during such transits. After passing through the zones of highest radiation the spacecraft may emerge from the protective orbital shield and commence any further maneuvers. The enclosure deploys on orbit after launch from the Earth using centrifugal force.

A supporting frame for aerospace applications comprises a plurality of rods, which are arranged along two bases substantially parallel and opposite each other, and along two sides, which are substantially parallel and opposite to each other and are coupled to each other via the two bases; the rods are coupled to each other in a mutually rotating manner by nodes so as to be able to configure the supporting frame between a deployed operating condition and a compacted operating condition; the nodes are spaced apart from one another in the deployed operating condition and are each hinged to at least two of the rods; in the compacted operating condition, each of the nodes is placed side by side with two adjacent nodes so as to form, together, two supporting members arranged at opposite longitudinal ends of the supporting frame and each being ring-shaped.

In some aspects, this disclosure relates to improved Z-grade materials, such as those used for shielding, systems incorporating such materials, and processes for making such Z-grade materials. In some examples, the Z-grade material includes a diffusion zone including mixed metallic alloy material with both a high atomic number material and a lower atomic number material. In certain examples, a process for making Z-grade material includes combining a high atomic number material and a low atomic number material, and bonding the high atomic number material and the low atomic number together using diffusion bonding. The processes may include vacuum pressing material at an elevated temperature, such as a temperature near a softening or melting point of the low atomic number material. In another aspect, systems such as a vault or an electronic enclosure are disclosed, where one or more surfaces of Z-grade material make up part or all of the vault/enclosure.

A magnetic shield system for providing human occupants of spacecraft with protection from cosmic and solar radiation using electromagnets or solenoids for generating magnetic fields but which magnetic fields are kept at a sufficient distance from a spacecraft to greatly reduce the interference effect of the magnetic fields on the spacecraft electronic systems. The electromagnets or solenoids are placed at the ends of arms or shafts placed equidistantly from each other and projecting in uniform formation from the body of the spacecraft along the main axis or body of the spacecraft. The electromagnets or solenoids are placed parallel with each other and parallel with the main body of the spacecraft, are in-line with each other and are placed around the exterior of the spacecraft and along the main axis of the body of the spacecraft. Electromagnets may also be placed at the front and back of the spacecraft.