BTI Bubble Detectors in Space

Canadian Astronaut holding a BTI bubble detector

On December 3rd, 2018, 6 years after Chris Hadfield’s Radi-N2 mission, Canadian astronaut David Saint-Jacques will be launching to the International Space Station (ISS) to perform radiation measurements during his six-month mission. These measurements will be conducted as part of the Radi-N2 experiment, an experiment that measures astronauts’ exposure to potentially dangerous neutron radiation using bubble detectors – innovative Canadian technology provided by Bubble Technology Industries (BTI).

Through a partnership between BTI, the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and Let’s Talk Science, a project called Radi-N2 & You will be conducted as part of the Radi-N2 experiment, to foster youth engagement around the topic of radiation exposure. While David Saint-Jacques measures radiation levels with our bubble detectors in space, the Radi-N2 & You project will allow children across Canada to do the same on Earth.

Students and educators will be able to:

  • Measure neutron radiation levels on Earth using bubble detectors made by Bubble Technology Industries;
  • Collect and analyze data and compare their results with information from other participating classrooms in Canada as well as from the ISS;
  • Learn about neutron radiation and its effects on human health;
  • Develop critical thinking and data analysis skills.

To learn from about radiation and the Radi-N2 & You project from David Saint-Jacques, please visit this CSA webpage.

Image Credit: Canadian Space Agency