Description

This presentation introduces attendees to one of the most formidable hazards of deep space travel: Galactic Cosmic Radiation. Participants gain a clear, accessible understanding of what GCR is, where it comes from, and why it differs fundamentally from radiation encountered on Earth. The session explores how radiation levels expected on missions to the Moon and Mars may affect astronaut biology, with a focus on emerging evidence for impacts on brain health and cognition, cancer initiation and progression, and cardiovascular disease risk. This talk also covers how space radiation research is conducted on Earth, including the strengths and limitations of current experimental models. Finally, the speaker summarizes mitigation strategies under active investigation, from spacecraft shielding concepts to pharmacological countermeasures, equipping attendees with a realistic view of how science is working to protect human health beyond Earth.

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