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Author
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Topic: Radiation concerns on Mercury-Atlas 9
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MOL
Member Posts: 120
From: Los Angeles, CA
Registered: Oct 2004
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posted 09-22-2020 11:40 PM
   
I seem to recall reading somewhere that there were concerns prior to Gordon Cooper's Mercury-Atlas 9 (MA-9) mission that he would be exposed to radiation levels at higher levels than normal due to leftover radiation from the high altitude exoatmospheric nuclear weapon tests conducted by both the US and Russia in November, 1962. I recall reading that for additional protection he wore some type of extra layer below his normal pressure suit. Does anyone else recall reading this or is it a figment of my imagination? If I am correct, can someone please site a reference? Thank you! |
NukeGuy
Member Posts: 67
From: Irvine, CA USA
Registered: May 2014
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posted 09-25-2020 03:59 PM
A series of high altitude nuclear tests were conducted as Operation Fishbowl starting in June, 1962. These tests actually created artificial aurora and Van Allen type radiation belts that are believed to have shortened the lives of several satellites.The enhanced radiation environment would also have impacted Schirra's flight in October 1962. I wasn't able to find a mission report for Cooper's flight that discussed how these tests impacted the flight. The Wikipedia article on his flight mentions Cooper taking several radiation measurements. Here is a passage from NASA: A number of improvements were also made to the pressure suit worn by Cooper. These included a mechanical seal for the helmet, new gloves with an improved inner liner and link netting between the inner and outer fabrics at the wrist, and a torso section redesigned for increased mobility. The boots were also now integrated with the suit to provide increased comfort for the longer mission, to reduce weight, and to decrease the time required to don the suit. Another change moved the life vest from the center of the chest to a pocket on the lower left leg, thus reducing the bulkiness from the suit and, again, providing more comfort during the flight. There is no mention of suit modifications designed to reduce radiation exposure. While lead vests can provide radiation dose reduction to specific parts of the body from directed radiation fields, they are obviously not a practical solution for manned spaceflight. It seems that flight planners determined that the spacecraft structure and suit provided adequate protection. Plus the radiation intensity might have been localized to the south Pacific.It is insane that some of these tests were conducted around the time of the Cuban Missile Crisis and just after. |
NukeGuy
Member Posts: 67
From: Irvine, CA USA
Registered: May 2014
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posted 09-25-2020 04:16 PM
According to Schirra's mission report, "the radiation exposure was minimal and posed no hazard to flight."It's possible that NASA kept any preflight concerns to themselves so as not to conflict with DoD/Atomic Energy Commission activities. |
MOL
Member Posts: 120
From: Los Angeles, CA
Registered: Oct 2004
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posted 09-25-2020 06:19 PM
Thank you, I appreciate the info. I actually spoke today with Al Rochford himself, the man who actually suited up Cooper preflight, and he did not recall anything different with the suit itself for this purpose. But I believe it is still possible that something may have been stowed for use during flight, the type of the thing a dentist uses on you during x-rays.I found a 1980 interview with Cooper where he definitely mentions concern about radiation for his flight and the radical steps that were taken by some of the astronauts. Here is the excerpt: What about long-term effects? Weren't the doctors worried about radiation damage to your reproductive system?"In those days we knew little about the Van Allen radiation belts and other sources. And the radiation experts, in order to be very conservative, were putting the risks very high. So we were making plans to set up a bone-marrow bank with marrow taken from the sternum so that if we did get severe radiation, we could reintroduce our own tissue to replace damaged marrow. A number of us decided we didn't want to take any chances with our offspring. So we had vasectomies." |
Fra Mauro
Member Posts: 1687
From: Bethpage, N.Y.
Registered: Jul 2002
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posted 09-26-2020 02:35 PM
There must have really been concerned about weight if that was one of the reasons to integrate the boots with the suit. |
NukeGuy
Member Posts: 67
From: Irvine, CA USA
Registered: May 2014
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posted 09-26-2020 05:46 PM
By the time the charged particles from the nuclear tests were interacting with the magnetosphere and with the hull of the spacecraft, the radiation field was probably independent of orientation. The lead apron you wear at the dentist while getting an X-ray is designed for a fairly narrow beam (though I wish they provided better coverage of the organs in the neck such as the thyroid gland).The suits that workers at commercial nuclear plants wear is designed to prevent ingesting/inhaling and tracking out radioactive materials contamination, not shielding against electromagnetic radiation or particles. Though they do shield against alpha particles as would a sheet of paper. I’m going to make an inquiry with a blogger who covers nuclear weapons issues regarding the wisdom of doing such tests, particularly during the hair trigger mentality around the Cuban Missile Crisis. These test did contribute much that we know about Electromagnetic Pulse effects of nuclear weapons and their effect on electronics. |
MOL
Member Posts: 120
From: Los Angeles, CA
Registered: Oct 2004
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posted 09-26-2020 05:56 PM
Well this is getting off topic, but I can answer your question. The reason the United States and Russia performed these nuclear tests in a condensed period in 1962 is because both nations had already agreed to a moratorium on the tests by 1963 — pending the signing of the nuclear test ban treaty. So 1962 would be the final year to execute above ground nuclear tests by the US and Russia. And today we know the main reason that President Kennedy was able to go forward with that agreement is because he had already been briefed in 1962 on the Vela satellite program. He knew in confidence that the Russians could never again hide the fact of doing an above ground nuclear weapons test (including those detonated in space) thanks to the sensors aboard the Vela satellites. |
Lou Chinal
Member Posts: 1352
From: Staten Island, NY
Registered: Jun 2007
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posted 10-04-2020 11:52 PM
The boots were also now integrated with the suit to provide increased comfort for the longer mission, to reduce weight, and to decrease the time required to don the suit. The reason for the boot change on MA-9 was that Schirra got cold feet on MA-8. |
Blackarrow
Member Posts: 3219
From: Belfast, United Kingdom
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 10-10-2020 10:19 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Lou Chinal:
Schirra got cold feet on MA-8.
Wow! I'd like to have seen someone approaching Schirra after his flight and saying, 'Hey Wally, I hear you got cold feet up there." I don't know about the States, but where I come from "cold feet" can be defined as "a wave of timidity or fearfulness" or "too fearful to undertake or complete an action." OK, removing my tongue from my cheek, I think some of the radiation questions are answered in NASA SP-45 (Mercury Project Summary) which is available on-line. See Paper 12, sub-heading "Radiation Experiments." I note that each Mercury astronaut received less radiation exposure than a person receives in two weeks on the surface of the Earth. Cooper's flight was 3.7 times the duration of Schirra's but SP-45 notes that between Schirra's flight and Cooper's flight radiation from the atmospheric nuclear tests had declined "as predicted, by several orders of magnitude." However, the report also makes clear that NASA was aware of increased radiation exposure for spacecraft passing through the "South Atlantic Anomaly" (a term which would become more familiar during the high-apogee orbits on the later Gemini flights). Of course, this was a "hot" period in the Cold War and I take NukeGuy's point that perhaps NASA didn't tell us (or even the astronauts) everything about the radiation hazard. |
Lou Chinal
Member Posts: 1352
From: Staten Island, NY
Registered: Jun 2007
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posted 10-10-2020 04:43 PM
Yes I know, I was only 13 years old when MA-9 flew. I think there was a lot of things left out about radiation in that Mercury Summary (Cooper's flight).Mike Collins is quoted as saying "I only know that if I ever develop eye cataracts, I will try to blame it on Gemini 10." The 60's was a troubled time. |
Captain Apollo
Member Posts: 266
From: UK
Registered: Jun 2004
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posted 10-17-2020 06:21 PM
A number of us decided we didn't want to take any chances with our offspring. So we had vasectomies." Hang on — some of the Mercury 7 got vasectomies? |
MOL
Member Posts: 120
From: Los Angeles, CA
Registered: Oct 2004
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posted 10-17-2020 08:00 PM
Yes, according to that 1980 interview with Cooper quoted above which was done for Omni Magazine. Of the Mercury Seven, the only one who had additional children after their spaceflight was Carpenter. |
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