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Uploaded on July 3, 2015
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Astronaut health: The dangers of space weather
2015-07-04 - Neutron radiation released by severe solar storms can be risky for astronauts living aboard the International Space Station (ISS) as it can cause biological damage. Just like medical X-rays, these high-energy particles can shoot through delicate body tissues, and through long-term exposure, they can damage DNA and potentially cause cataracts, bone marrow damage or even cancer. When violent solar eruptions are directed towards Earth and the ISS, astronauts take cover in shielded parts of the ISS or their Soyuz capsule for better protection, and spacewalks are postponed. Understanding the way humans in space are affected by space weather is also critical for future manned missions to the moon, Mars or beyond.
(Credits: Canadian Space Agency, NASA)
