Applicability of composite materials for space radiation shielding of spacecraft.

Energetic ion beam experiments with major space radiation elements, H, He, O, Si and Fe, have been conducted to investigate the radiation shielding properties of composite materials. These materials are expected to be used for parts and fixtures of space vehicles due to both their mechanical strength and their space radiation shielding capabilities. Low Z materials containing hydrogen are effective for shielding protons and heavy ions due to their high stopping power and large fragmentation cross section per unit mass.