Experimental study of solar radiation effects on carbon nanocomposite sensors in simulated space environment

Solar radiation, generally referred to the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the Sun, constitutes one of the most critical risks for human exploration in space. Whereas on Earth such radiation is filtered for the shorter and highly hazardous wavelengths by the atmosphere and its ozone layer, in space solar radiation has profound and adverse effects on the structural and electronic components of spacecrafts, as well as on biological systems, if they are not properly shielded. In this context, research on innovative radiation sensing materials and devices to measure the internal radiation environment of spacecrafts or to monitor the radiation exposure experienced by astronauts during extra-vehicular activities is constantly growing. In this paper, we report results on the design and experimental tests of lightweight carbon-based nanocomposite materials, which can be used for radiation sensing applications in space environment.