Advancing Readiness for Deep Space Exploration: Status and Developments by the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer Group

The AMS group is pioneering high-precision ionizing radiation (IR) dose-effect models to accurately predict the biological effects of IR on human health during space missions. These models are essential for understanding the risks associated with radiation exposure and developing protective measures for astronauts. In addition to dose-effect modelling, the AMS group is actively evaluating existing Monte Carlo-based codes such as FLUKA and GEANT4. The aim is to compare these codes’ behaviors when applied to typical radiobiological simulations of space radiation. This evaluation is crucial for identifying the strengths and limitations of these tools and ensuring their accuracy and reliability in predicting the effects of space radiation on human health. The research also addresses the significant impact of solar flares and radiation on human health, presenting key challenges for deep space missions. Understanding these effects is critical for ensuring the safety of astronauts and developing effective mitigation strategies. Furthermore, the presentation will discuss the ongoing development of an ontology for space radiation biology, which enhances the management and comparison of experimental datasets. This effort aligns with the RBO ontology developed by a NASA Ames-led collaboration and aims to facilitate better data integration across studies.