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Division Spotlight
Radiation Protection & Shielding
The Radiation Protection and Shielding Division is developing and promoting radiation protection and shielding aspects of nuclear science and technology — including interaction of nuclear radiation with materials and biological systems, instruments and techniques for the measurement of nuclear radiation fields, and radiation shield design and evaluation.
Meeting Spotlight
2024 ANS Annual Conference
June 16–19, 2024
Las Vegas, NV|Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino
Standards Program
The Standards Committee is responsible for the development and maintenance of voluntary consensus standards that address the design, analysis, and operation of components, systems, and facilities related to the application of nuclear science and technology. Find out What’s New, check out the Standards Store, or Get Involved today!
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Latest News
Commercial nuclear innovation "new space" age
In early 2006, a start-up company launched a small rocket from a tiny island in the Pacific. It exploded, showering the island with debris. A year later, a second launch attempt sent a rocket to space but failed to make orbit, burning up in the atmosphere. Another year brought a third attempt—and a third failure. The following month, in September 2008, the company used the last of its funds to launch a fourth rocket. It reached orbit, making history as the first privately funded liquid-fueled rocket to do so.
Paul Day, Mark Cutkosky, Richard Greco, Anastasia McLaughlin
Nuclear Science and Engineering | Volume 167 | Number 3 | March 2011 | Pages 242-247
Technical Note | doi.org/10.13182/NSE10-56TN
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Irradiation of polymer-based gecko-like synthetic adhesives (GSAs) using an accelerated beam of He++ ions has been performed. This irradiation simulates large radiation doses that the GSAs may experience if deployed on a robotic platform in some radiological environments. After irradiation, the adhesive samples were tested for adhesion on a three-axis adhesion testing stage and were examined via scanning electron microscope. The GSA samples showed significant changes in surface morphology at high radiation doses. Additionally, radiation doses larger than 750 kGy resulted in a significant deterioration of the adhesive performance. Eventually, the adhesive samples lost all ability to generate frictional adhesion. Such results allow us to make quantitative statements about the applicability of GSAs for robotic applications in nuclear environments.