The Van Allen radiation belt... how was the moon landing possible?

Question

how could the astronauts survive a trip to the moon without any protection from the radiation belt?

Answer 1

The van Allen belts are regions above the Earth's surface where the Earth's magnetic field has trapped particles of the solar wind. An unprotected man would indeed get a lethal dose of radiation, if he stayed there long enough. Actually, the spaceship traveled through the belts pretty quickly, getting past them in an hour or so. There simply wasn't enough time to get a lethal dose, and, as a matter of fact, the metal hull of the spaceship did indeed block most of the radiation.

Tests done by NASA showed that it was possible to not only survive such a passage, but to not even get harmed much by it.

Answer 2

It is a common Apollo program myth that the Van Allen radiation belt hinders space travel. In reality, the radiation belt affected the astronauts. The most harmful thing it could have done would to have damaged their equipment. It is noted however that the Apollo astronauts would have a higher risk of cancer due to the radiation.

Answer 3

Radiation isn't some magiclal force--its a physical phenomenon with specific properties. One of those is that a limited exposure causes little or no harm to human beings. If you look at the flight profile of the Apollo missions, you'll see the passed through the Van Allen belts in a short period of time. In addition, the Command module provided a good deal of protection.

I can understand why this seems mysterious--"radiation"--and space--are areas in which most people have little knowledge. To a great extent this is a result of our abysmal educational system--it's atrocious, especially when it comes to science. If you really want to understand these things, you'll have to take the initiative and educate yourself. Good luck.

Answer 4

Traveling thru the Van Allen Belts at a rapid rate of speed for an hour or so is one matter, however, traveling thru them given the fact that the Command Module s outer hull is only 1/18th. of an inch thick without exposing the crew to fatal doses of radiation is most curious...

Answer 5

>>X-Rays, Gamma rays are known<< no longer interior the van Allen belts they do no longer look to be. The van Allen belts are areas of trapped *particle* radiation, no longer electromagnetic radiation. Particle radiation alongside with that got here across interior the belts is unquestionably shielded employing mild metlas and plastics, that have been the type of fabric used interior the form of the Apollo spacecraft that took adult males to the Moon. X-rays and gamma rays are no longer affected by the belts, and are not from now on severe outdoors it as they are in low Earth orbit. they do no longer look to worry astronauts there. >>and might have made the holiday a perilous seize for the Astronauts.<< Sorry, yet that's purely rubbish. Radiation isn't immediately fatal. you ought to appreciate the radiation sort, power and flux density, and then layout suitable shields. opposite to common thought, you do no longer choose extensive lead sheets to guard you from the radiation in area. >>.except they went swifter and/or by way of a diverse vehicle. suggestions anybody?<< They have been going around 25,000 mph whilst they surpassed in the time of the belts, and bear in mind that for the period of area you could circulate in all 3 dimensions comfortably. The van Allen belts are purely that: belts. they do no longer look to be thoroughly surrounding the Earth, nor are they of uniform intensity. With the combos of the airplane of the belts, the airplane of the Moon's orbit and the airplane of the spacecraft's commute all desiring attention in a flight to the Moon, you could deliver your spacecraft on a trajectory which could bypass generally over or under the belts and evade the main severe areas. so that they had sufficient shielding, went by way of very speedy and prevented the main severe areas. basic.

Answer 6

Harm from radiation equals (dose) times (time of exposure). They didn't spend enough time in the area of the belt to get hurt.

Answer 7

Several astronauts have developed cancer. Traveling in space exposes you to a lot of radiation.

Answer 8

It wasn't like they took a vacation there. The amount it hurts you depends on how long you are exposed to it. They took a quick trip through and got a minimal exposure - like taking one x-ray as opposed to 100 x-rays at the doctor's office.

Answer 9

1) then did have protection and 2) they went through the weakest part of the belt.