Unlike Earth, Mars lacks a protective magnetosphere and therefore lacks the protection against solar wind and cosmic radiation. Also, the thin atmosphere devoid of ozone is unable to protect the surface from solar ultraviolet rays. This poses considerable challenge to human habitation on Mars, where humans will be exposed to over 2.5 times radiation as compared to that of astronauts in Internal Space Station. Since each human will stay on Mars either permanently or for many years at a time, the cumulative effects of radiation is substantial.
Many contemporary designs propose several meters thick Martian regolith or Martian water from permafrost to create radiation shields placed directly on top of the human settlements. Having millions of tonnes of water or regolith directly above human habitats carries risk to human lives in an event of catastrophic failure of support structures.
Our patented Craterhab technology proposes reliable and safe radiation protection measures inherent to and integrated into its design. Craterhabs will provide 95% reflectivity to Solar ultraviolet rays. However, the multilayer fabric structure of Craterhabs is not sufficient enough to protect against solar wind and cosmic radiation. A radical approach is needed to mitigate the effect of radiation preferably without the need of living dangerously under thousands of tonnes of water and regolith shielding. Craterhab Technology incorporates our patent-pending Integrated Radiation Shield within the body of the fabric dome itself powered by electricity to generate non-ionizing radiation that can deflect the solar and cosmic radiation sufficiently to provide safety to human beings inside the habitats where they will spend most of their time.