HAMPTON, Va. -- The success of future space exploration may depend on how well astronauts can be protected from the perils of cosmic radiation.

Human missions to date have been short in duration or have occurred within Earth's protective magnetic field. In view of current plans for long duration missions back to the moon and to Mars, NASA continues to investigate and assess risk to future astronauts.

Dr. John W. Wilson, radiation expert and recent Langley retiree, will discuss the importance and challenges of protecting the crew from cosmic radiation during missions to the moon and Mars at a colloquium at 2 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 8, in the H.J.E. Reid Conference Center at NASA's Langley Research Center.

Media who wish to interview Wilson at a news briefing at 1:15 p.m. Jan. 8 should contact Marny Skora at 864-3315 by noon for credentials and entry to NASA Langley.

For more information on NASA Langley’s Colloquium lectures, visit:

http://shemesh.larc.nasa.gov/Lectures/colloq/colloqsigma.htm

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