Independent research · Crew radiation safety
Cosmivex is an independent research initiative dedicated to advancing atmospheric radiation protection and safety policy.
01 · Health Challenges
As cruising latitude rises, Earth's magnetic field weakens, providing a thin atmosphere and less cosmic radiation shielding. Generally, commercial airlines cruise between 25,000 and 41,000 ft with the radiation dose rate fluctuating between 2 and 12 µSv/h based on the cruising latitude and solar particle events (SPE). Among all the cruising routes, polar and transpolar routes experience the maximum radiation exposure, which can exceed 80 µSv/h during the SPE at high latitude. For better understanding, if we compare it to chest X-rays using a real-world example, a one-way May 2024 flight from San Francisco to Paris recorded a radiation dose rate equivalent to four chest X-rays during the Gannon solar storm.
Why is it so crucial? Typically, an aviation crew logs 800 to 1,000 flight hours a year, resulting in longer repetitive radiation exposure, which can damage DNA sequences, leading to higher long-term cancer risks.
Beyond aviation, with ISS retirement in 2030, there is a greater likelihood of crewed missions extending into cislunar space, leading to a significant increase in cosmic radiation exposure. Despite the awareness of the health risks of prolonged radiation exposure, international standards lack a framework to harmonize safety standards for flight and space crew. Closing this regulatory gap is essential to protecting the people who fly our skies and explore our solar system.
02 · Why now
FAA
Standard public comment period stays active for 60 days since the published date of a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM).
ICAO
Formally adopts safety amendments once a year, typically in March.
ICAO
The public comment window is open until August 14, 2026.
ICRP
Public consultation windows open for 90 to 120 days on a multi-year rolling basis.
03 · Conferences
Our paper at the 77th International Astronautical Congress argues that the absence of binding international safety standards is becoming a meaningful risk for cislunar missions. The research includes reviewing existing regulations, conducting a gap analysis, and drawing on longitudinal datasets from nuclear workers and the Hibakusha survivor cohort to propose concrete recommendations for harmonized crew safety standards, with particular emphasis on deep space exploration.
Request the paper04 · Research
A review of the data and design gap for women in human spaceflight, covering cardiovascular, reproductive, musculoskeletal, immune, and radiation-related risks. The paper synthesizes the existing literature and proposes design and operational considerations that account for sex differences in physiological response to space environments.
A regulatory gap analysis and risk assessment of crew radiation safety frameworks across agencies, drawing on nuclear-worker and Hibakusha cohort data. The paper proposes concrete recommendations for internationally harmonized standards for deep space exploration missions.
05 · Founders
We have been researching the safety of astronauts and flight crews together since 2022.
Co-founder
M.Eng. in Mechanical Engineering
Systems and project engineer working on advanced space systems, with prior experience at the Canadian Space Agency (CSA). Researcher with the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC) Space Exploration Project Group, focused on the health and safety of female astronauts. Presented at the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN COPUOS), and recipient of a Special Recognition Award from the International Association for the Advancement of Space Safety (IAASS). Peer reviewer for Acta Astronautica. Former Local Lead for the NASA Space Apps Challenge in Toronto, Canada's largest edition of the event.
Co-founder
M.S. in Electrical Engineering, MBA
Electrical Engineer in the Medical Device Industry, working on RF Coils for MRI imaging systems. Representing the Women's Health Department at RSNA and Innovations for Healthcare.
Researcher, author, and former social media manager with the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC), and represented the council as a delegate to UN COPUOS in 2024. Human health research interests span from Terrane to Space.
06 · Participate
Flight Crews, Frequent Flyers, and Flight Regulators, your firsthand experiences are far more valuable. Your safety is driven by your inputs. That's why your responses are essential for our research. Your contribution is going to shape this industry for future generations.
Anonymous. No personal flight schedules collected. We'll only contact you with finished work unless you opt in.
