Radiation Exposure Comparisons with Mars Trip Calculation
Measurements with the MSL's RAD on NASA's Curiosity Mars rover during the flight to Mars and now on the surface of Mars enable an estimate of the radiation astronauts would be exposed to on an expedition to Mars.
Micrograys are unit of measurement for absorbed radiation dose. The vertical axis is in micrograys per day. The RAD instrument on NASA's Curiosity Mars rover monitors the natural radiation environment at the surface of Mars.
Comparison of Some Radiation Exposures to Mars-Trip Level
This graphic compares the radiation dose equivalent for several types of experiences, including a calculation for a trip from Earth to Mars based on measurements made by the RAD instrument shielded inside NASA's Mars Science Laboratory spacecraft.
This graph based on data from the RAD instrument onboard NASA's Mars Science Laboratory spacecraft shows the flux of energetic particles (vertical axis) as a function of the estimated energy deposited in water (horizontal axis).
Radiation Measurements During Trip From Earth to Mars
This graphic shows the level of natural radiation detected by the Radiation Assessment Detector shielded inside NASA's Mars Science Laboratory on the trip from Earth to Mars from December 2011 to July 2012.
Sources of Ionizing Radiation in Interplanetary Space
This illustration depicts the two main types of radiation that NASA's Radiation Assessment Detector (RAD) onboard Curiosity monitors, and how the magnetic field around Earth affects the radiation in space near Earth.
Like a human working in a radiation environment, NASA's Curiosity rover carries its own version of a dosimeter to measure radiation from outer space and the sun. This graphic shows the flux of radiation detected the rover's Radiation Assessment Detector.