Bubble Technology Industries Inc. (BTI), a Canadian company in Chalk River, Ontario with world-renowned expertise in radiation and explosives detection, has been awarded a contract with the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) to produce a system that will monitor radiation in space.

The Canadian Active Neutron Spectrometer (CANS) system is designed to operate continuously without requiring human intervention. Data collected by the CANS will advance our knowledge of space radiation and enhance the safety of future space missions, positioning Canada as a crucial player in space radiation detection.

While Earth’s atmosphere and magnetosphere serve as effective shields against radiation coming from deep space, astronauts operating at higher altitudes receive greater radiation exposure than they would on Earth. Among the most concerning types of radiation is neutron radiation, which can be particularly damaging to humans. Based on Canada’s extensive prior experience in measuring neutron radiation, the CSA identified neutron spectrometry as a critical domain for future space missions.

“The CANS instrument is a unique radiation detector that will improve our understanding of deep space and our ability to protect astronaut health. We are honoured to be working with the CSA on this important mission with support from our outstanding partners from across the Canadian space sector”.

– Lianne Ing, President of BTI

BTI has a rich history in this field, starting in 1988 with the launch of its namesake product, the Bubble Detector. This innovative neutron detector has been used on over two dozen space missions for over three decades, including on the Radi-N and Radi-N2 experiments on the International Space Station. On Earth, it is used by nuclear facilities, research institutions, military personnel, and the medical community. In 2022, the Bubble Detector and BTI were inducted into the US Space Technology Hall of Fame.

To learn more about the work of BTI, visit https://bubbletech.ca/.