A protective vest worn by a female test dummy during NASA’s Artemis I lunar flight could reduce an astronaut’s radiation exposure by up to 60% during severe solar storms, according to a study published in Science Advances. Researchers from the United States, Germany, and Israel reported that the AstroRad vest effectively shields vital organs from cancer-causing particle events as NASA plans future long-duration moon bases and crewed missions to Mars.
Radiation remains a primary hurdle for deep-space missions, where crews lack the protective shield of Earth’s atmosphere and magnetic field. The study analyzed data collected during the uncrewed Artemis I flight in 2022, when two life-size female manikins named Zohar and Helga were strapped into the Orion capsule’s passenger seats for a nearly month-long trip around the moon.
How the AstroRad Vest Protects Vulnerable Organs
Developed by U.S.-Israeli startup StemRad and Lockheed Martin, the 57-pound (26-kilogram) AstroRad vest is designed to cover human organs and tissues most susceptible to radiation-induced cancer, including the lungs, stomach, bone marrow, breasts, and ovaries. According to researchers, women are believed to be especially vulnerable to space radiation risks.
During the Artemis I mission, Zohar wore the protective vest, while Helga flew without one. Both manikins were embedded with thousands of radiation sensors. Although the flight encountered no major solar outbursts, lead author Jordan Houri of StemRad stated that the project represents “the largest experiment ever conducted to determine astronaut radiation exposure beyond low-Earth orbit,” with funding provided by NASA, the German Aerospace Center, and the Israel Space Agency.
Did you know? A prototype of the AstroRad vest was previously tested for comfort and function aboard the International Space Station, modeled closely after gear used by nuclear disaster response teams.
Simulating Historic Solar Storms and Deep Space Risks
To measure the vest’s efficacy against extreme weather, researchers used data gathered as the Orion capsule passed through the inner Van Allen radiation belt to simulate historical solar particle events. The findings showed the vest could cut a lunar astronaut’s radiation dose by roughly 60% during a solar storm as intense as the one recorded in 1972, and by nearly 40% during a similar event in 1989.
According to the scientific team, those reductions equate to eliminating 193 days and 131 days, respectively, of unnecessary deep-space radiation exposure. For context, the 1972 solar outburst occurred between the Apollo 16 and Apollo 17 missions, sparing those crews from potentially lethal doses during flights that lasted less than two weeks.
| Solar Storm Year | Simulated Dose Reduction | Equivalent Deep-Space Exposure Saved |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 Solar Storm | About 60% | 193 days |
| 1989 Solar Storm | Nearly 40% | 131 days |
Next Steps for Lunar Outposts and Mars Travel
As NASA looks toward establishing a sustainable moon base with stays lasting weeks or months, the danger of enduring a dangerous solar storm increases significantly. Longer expeditions to Mars, which could span months, years, or even lifetimes, will require robust personal shielding if private ambitions such as building a red planet settlement are realized.
Scientists are currently analyzing the extensive dataset provided by Zohar and Helga to trim weight from the AstroRad vest without compromising safety. Researchers are also investigating methods to construct radiation shields from materials already present inside spacecraft, a recycling strategy that could safeguard future crews.
Following the completion of the research, Zohar and her protective vest have been placed on public display at Florida’s Kennedy Space Center, where their historic journey to the moon began.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why didn’t the Artemis II crew wear the AstroRad vest?
The vest did not fly with the four-person Artemis II crew because their lunar flyby was a short 10-day mission with limited cabin space, though researchers suggest it may be included as cargo on future missions.
Which organs does the AstroRad vest protect?
The vest is designed to cover the lungs, stomach, bone marrow, breasts, and ovaries during high-radiation solar events.
How much does the vest weigh?
The AstroRad vest weighs 57 pounds (26 kilograms).
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