Duration: 48 months
Radiation exposure remains a fundamental health risk for astronauts engaged in long-duration missions beyond low Earth orbit. Current personal dosimetry systems are limited in resolution, responsiveness, and wearability, offering little real-time feedback and no capability to differentiate between radiation types. The proposed project, QUASAR, aims to overcome these limitations by pioneering a hybrid, wearable radiation-sensing platform that leverages an advanced quantum technology based on engineered quantum dots (QDs) with radiation-sensitive fluorescence properties. The core innovation of QUASAR lies in the development of a wearable, quantum-enabled dosimetry platform for real-time, high-resolution personal radiation sensing exploiting the visual dose-response capabilities of QDs, which offer ultra-low-power colorimetric feedback. These materials enable intuitive, real-time visual alerts within a compact, flexible sensor system suitable for integration into EVA suits or astronaut undergarments. This project will address key low-TRL challenges, including materials selection, quantum sensor calibration, environmental durability under space-like conditions, and the design of modular sensor architectures for skin-conformal use. It will also lay the groundwork for future readout electronics and integration strategies compatible with space mission requirements. By advancing wearable quantum dosimetry for astronaut health, QUASAR directly supports ESA’s strategic goals in human exploration, biomedical innovation, and quantum technology leadership—while opening potential applications in terrestrial radiation protection, aviation, and medical diagnostics.
