Radiaton Shielding?

tomexe wrote:

> Doesnt most solar radiaton, including the intense pulses from solar
> flare activity, travel in a straight line, unless acted on by a
> REALLY strong gravitational or magnetic force?

No I believe that in earth orbit atleast, it hits from all
directions at once. The magnetic field of the earth scatters
and contains it.

> At least half the time the satellites would be safe in the tadpole
> tail of the earths magnetosphere, which would attenuate the effect of
> solar flare radiation. So how much really would get to the
> settlements?

I think the Van Allen belt complicates matters.

>

--
- Ian Woollard (ian.woollard@...)

"Is a planetary surface the right place for an expanding
technological civilization?"
- Gerard O'Neill