NASA uses aerogel to catch dust (was Mass is no longer a factor in r

> advances in shielding have led to nanotechnolgy research where
> the density of the material at the nano level may provide a
> lower profile of material.
>
> We could use nanotechnology to create a solid - say an
> aerogel - which intercepts and then reflects and
> refracts the cosmic ray,

Do you understand that we are talking about protons, alpha
particles, and electrons?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmic_ray

> something that NASA uses to intercept cosmic rays right now.
> (Google: wiki nanogel or wiki stardust nasa)

That is untrue. NASA collects dust samples.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stardust_%28spacecraft%
29#Aerogel_sample_collectors

Cosmic radiation is not composed of dust.

The reason that NASA uses aerogel to catch dust is not that aerogel
makes a particularly good shield (and it happens to *not* make a
particularly good shield). The reason is that aerogel can catch
dust without damaging it. This is explained at the Stardust link
above.

> For those naturally inclinded, but planning a trip
> beyond the van Allen belt, go green and take along
> your own magnetic field generator for protection...

This is a bad idea for reasons that were explained in a link I
posted in my previous message. Here is that link again:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_threat_from_cosmic_rays#Shielding

"Electromagnetic shielding has a number of problems: (1) the fields
act in opposite directions on positively and negatively charged
particles, so shielding that excludes positively charged galactic
cosmic rays will tend to attract negative ions; (2) a very large
power supply would be required in order to run the electrostatic and
magnetostatic generators, and superconducting materials might have to
be used for magnetic coils; (3) the possible field patterns might
tend to dump charged particles into one area of the spacecraft."

> Finally, no one technology appears to be able to
> handle all the cosmic radiation possibilities.

Mass and hydrogen-richness do handle all the cosmic radiation
possibilities.

By the way, what sorts of radiation do foam and aerogel shield
the best?