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4 years ago in Physics , Planetary Science By Malvika Mathur
How does the Sun’s radiation compare to galactic cosmic radiation in the outer solar system?
My team is involved in early-stage planning for a mission to the ice giants. Shielding requirements depend heavily on the radiation environment. While we have good models for Earth orbit and Jupiter, the profile in the outer solar system is less familiar. I need a clear, physics-based comparison to understand the shift from solar-dominated to galactic cosmic ray-dominated space.
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By Muhammad Umar Farooq Answered 1 year ago
From my work on radiation modeling for mission concepts, the shift is profound. Within the inner heliosphere, the Sun's magnetic field and solar wind act as a partial shield, sweeping out lower-energy galactic cosmic rays (GCRs). As you travel outward, this modulation weakens. By the orbit of Saturn, the GCR flux is already significantly higher. Beyond the heliopause the boundary Voyager 1 crossed the full, unimpeded spectrum of GCRs dominates. I would recommend consulting the Badhwar-O'Neill model for GCR fluxes and NASA's solar particle event models. For an ice giant mission, your shielding must be designed for the sustained, high-energy GCR bath, not just sporadic solar storms.
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