Nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP) is a viable technology for near-term interplanetary exploration. Of the candidate mission architectures that are currently available for a crewed Mars mission, NTP permits the greatest flexibility in launch window selection and provides the shortest possible trip time, thereby reducing risks associated with cosmic ray exposure,...
The objective of this study was to determine the distribution of
leakage radiation from two unshielded diagnostic-type X-ray tube
housings. This information was used to determine the shielding required
in the housings to bring them into compliance with the definition
of a diagnostic-type protective tube housing, as set forth by...
Development of long-range nuclear weapons in recent years and
the subsequent threat of nuclear war has led to an increased awareness
of the need for civilian protection. Adequate shelter design can
provide substantial protection against delayed radioactive fallout.
Protection can generally be greatly increased by more massive roof
construction to...
The recent reductions to the international dose limit recommendations for the lens
of the eye have renewed interest in radiation protection strategies in interventional
fluoroscopy, where eye-lens radiation exposure occurs frequently. Radiationshielding
eyewear can significantly reduce lens dose in these scenarios, but accurate
protection factors are elusive because they depend...
The human health and environmental effects following a postulated accidental release of radioactive material to the environment has been a public and regulatory concern since the early development of nuclear technology and researched extensively to better understand the potential risks for accident mitigation and emergency planning purposes. The objective of...
A lack of data concerning tungsten-based medical shields, specifically unit dose transport pigs, may lead to unnecessary exposure to medical personnel. Available research comparing lead to sintered tungsten shows that tungsten is approximately 1.5 - 10.0 times more effective as a radiation shield. However, this research lacks high-energy vs. low-energy...