I’m no scientist, but wouldn’t that mean the water becomes irradiated and when the astronauts drink it they’ll still be getting approximately the same level of radiation they already are?
Negative, it only gets irradiated if the water comes in contact and gets contaminated with radioactive material. Just like the cooling water that flows out of a nuclear power station is not more radioactive than the water that goes in.
Actually it technically does get irradiated by neutron activation, but the half life of Nitrogen-16 is only 7 seconds, so by the time it reaches the filters it’s already poof decayed away. (Very small amounts)
I’m no scientist, but wouldn’t that mean the water becomes irradiated and when the astronauts drink it they’ll still be getting approximately the same level of radiation they already are?
Negative, it only gets irradiated if the water comes in contact and gets contaminated with radioactive material. Just like the cooling water that flows out of a nuclear power station is not more radioactive than the water that goes in.
Actually it technically does get irradiated by neutron activation, but the half life of Nitrogen-16 is only 7 seconds, so by the time it reaches the filters it’s already poof decayed away. (Very small amounts)
Thanks. Good to know