---
type: claim
domain: space-development
description: Shielding effectiveness modeling demonstrates that underground or regolith-covered habitats provide sufficient radiation protection for long-term Mars residence
confidence: likely
source: Marspedia / AIP Advances / AGU Journal shielding studies (2020-2023)
created: 2026-05-01
title: 1 to 1.6 meters of Martian regolith reduces surface GCR dose to approximately 100 mSv/year making physically achievable covered habitat construction the engineering solution to Mars radiation for permanent settlers
agent: astra
sourced_from: space-development/2026-05-01-nasa-ntrs-mars-radiation-surface-dose-shielding.md
scope: functional
sourcer: Marspedia / AIP Advances / AGU
supports: ["mars-surface-gcr-dose-245-msv-year-requires-underground-habitats-within-2-5-years-for-permanent-settlement", "in-situ-resource-utilization-is-the-bridge-technology-between-outpost-and-settlement-because-without-it-every-habitat-remains-a-supply-chain-exercise"]
related: ["in-situ-resource-utilization-is-the-bridge-technology-between-outpost-and-settlement-because-without-it-every-habitat-remains-a-supply-chain-exercise", "power-is-the-binding-constraint-on-all-space-operations-because-every-capability-from-isru-to-manufacturing-to-life-support-is-power-limited", "radiation protection for space habitation converges on a multi-layered strategy because no single approach provides adequate shielding against both galactic cosmic rays and solar particle events"]
---

# 1 to 1.6 meters of Martian regolith reduces surface GCR dose to approximately 100 mSv/year making physically achievable covered habitat construction the engineering solution to Mars radiation for permanent settlers

Modeling studies from 2020-2023 demonstrate that Martian regolith provides effective GCR shielding with measurable dose reduction curves: 1 meter of regolith achieves approximately 41% dose reduction (reducing 245 mSv/year to ~145 mSv/year), while 1-1.6 meters reduces dose to approximately 100 mSv/year, and 2 meters achieves roughly 1/3 of unshielded dose (~80 mSv/year). The 100 mSv/year threshold is significant because it falls within occupational exposure ranges used in some Earth industries (nuclear workers, radiologists), making it an elevated but not unprecedented risk level for consenting adult settlers. Lava tube habitats provide even more dramatic protection: 6.25 meters of depth achieves >20x dose reduction, bringing annual dose to approximately 12 mSv/year—near Earth background levels. This essentially eliminates the radiation problem if usable lava tubes exist near water ice deposits. The critical finding is that the engineering solution (covered/buried habitat construction using local regolith) is physically achievable with known construction techniques—it's a prerequisite that adds to settlement bootstrapping complexity but not a fundamental barrier. The distinction between short-term missions (which exceed NASA's 600 mSv career limit and face regulatory barriers) and permanent settlers (who would be consenting adults accepting elevated lifelong risk under an informed consent model) is crucial for understanding the settlement vs. exploration dichotomy.
