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Cosmic Pathfinders Program Activities

DATE

April 15, 2025

TIME

4:00 pm EST

COMMUNITY

Cosmic Pathfinders

TYPE

Seminar

Cosmic Ray Shielding, Solar Power, and Planetary Habitability

Alaa Salah Afifi | Keplar Space University

This research links cosmic ray shielding with the solar power and the solar heliosphere to improve planetary habitability and enable safer exploration. It covers the natural shielding properties of the heliosphere against galactic cosmic rays (GCR) and innovative solar satellite technologies with improved GCR protection and related power delivery to planetary bases. Events from solar eruptions and their propagation consequences on Earth, Mars, and beyond are studied using the Graduated Cylindrical Shell and Wang-Sheeley-Arge-Enlil coronal modeling tools. The results draw attention to the fact that advanced Solar Power Satellites need to be equipped with adequate shielding for mitigation of radiation and long-term energy sustenance. Suggestions for long-term infrastructure on the Moon and Mars need to be proposed to address the problems of dust storms, radiation, and temperature fluctuation extremes.

More About the Speaker
Alaa Salah Afifi is an a Master's student in Planetary Science at Kepler Space University, who specializes in open science, green rocketry, and deep space exploration. She is featured in The African Network of Women in Astronomy (AFNWA) flagship AFNWA Story Book, in celebration of her contribution to space science and research, combining influential young women in astronomy all over Africa. Alaa has contributed to such major space missions as the Andromeda Project of the Deep Space Initiative and as an Expert Review Board Member at NASA Lifelines, lending innovation and scientific integrity. Aside from research, Alaa is also an avid space outreach and education supporter, serving as Space Generation Advisory Council mentor and women in aerospace for Women in Aerospace Barcelona, curriculum developer for Canada's Mars Explorer Program, and NASA Zooniverse projects as a citizen scientist.

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An illustration of Sun-like star HD 181327 and its surrounding debris disk. The star is at top right. It is surrounded by a far larger debris disk that forms an incomplete ellpitical path and is cut off at right. There’s a huge cavity between the star and the disk. The debris disk is shown in shades of light gray. Toward the top and left, there are finer, more discrete points in a range of sizes. The disk appears hazier and smokier at the bottom. The star is bright white at center, with a hazy blue region around it. The background of space is black. The label Artist's Concept appears at lower left.