Nasa’s Orion spacecraft ‘safe for lunar astronauts exposed to harmful radiation’

An artist’s impression of the Orion spacecraft. Picture: Nasa/PA

The shielded areas in Nasa’s lunar spacecraft can protect astronauts travelling to the moon against the harmful effects of space radiation, research suggests.

Chronic exposure to radiation can cause delayed medical problems such as cancer and premature ageing, which may happen over a long period of time.