Scientists Develop Magnetic Shield to Protect Space Travelers

Scientists have made progress in the testing and development of a magnetic shield to protect us from harmful radiation in space. Space travel and colonization may just have got a whole lot safer.

The urgent need for such a mechanism is due to the stream of highly charged particles emanating from the sun. Mission to the Moon and Mars usually involve interaction with such flares. The streams are not only a threat to human health, they are likely to tamper with on-board electronics systems.

The scientist's solution is to smother spaceships courtesy a protective magnetic field generator. It is another case of technology deriving inspiration from nature: the magnetosphere encircling our Earth provides us analogous protection from radiation that is Earthbound.

Currently, the simulation exercises involve setting up small scale solar flares in laboratory environments and using simple $20 magnets to punch protective bubbles within the flare region. The holes grew smaller under increased flares but did not implode.

Researchers accept that a reliable and practical implementation of the technology is over a decade away. They are not yet certain whether it would be ideal for a traveling craft to be able to generate its own field or whether there are advantages to accompanying spacecraft dedicated to this task.

Engineers are also keen to incorporate an energy conserving mechanism into the technology given that dangerous flares tend to be periodic and this offers the opportunity for activating the shield only when needed.