6 ms·
Alpha, not beta (beta radiation is just electrons): > Roughly 1% of the ISM consists of helium atoms, and we have a technical term for an ionized helium nucleu
by T-A 10y ago
Alpha, not beta (beta radiation is just electrons):
> Roughly 1% of the ISM consists of helium atoms, and we have a technical term for an ionized helium nucleus travelling at roughly 2% of the speed of light—6000km/sec—we call it an alpha particle.
The article pretty much debunks [1] by concluding that heavier atoms do most damage, but are still manageable.
- scrumper 10y agoThanks for the correction! Bad memory on my part. So the article refutes [1] because the relatively easy to manage mechanical effects of those alpha particles on the spacecraft exterior mean that it actually functions as an effective, long-term shield against alpha particles?