The Martian and extraterrestrial uv radiation environment. Part II: Further considerations on materials and design criteria for artificial ecosystems
Ultraviolet radiation is an important natural physical influence on organism function and ecosystem interactions. The UVradiation fluxes in extraterrestrial environments are substantially different from those experienced on Earth. On Mars, the moon and in Earth orbit they are more biologically detrimental than on Earth. Based on previously presented fluxes and biologically weighted irradiances, this paper considers in more detail measures to mitigate UVradiation damage and methods to modify extraterrestrialUVradiation environments in artificialecosystems that use natural sunlight. The transmission characteristics of a Martianmaterial that will mimic the terrestrial UVradiationenvironment are presented. Transmissivity characteristics of other Martian and lunar materials are described. Manufacturing processes for the production of plastics and glass on the lunar and Martian surface are presented with special emphasis on photobiological requirements. Novel UV absorbing configurations are suggested.