Could This Canadian Tech Be the Key to Protecting Astronauts from Deadly Space Radiation?
As space agencies around the world prepare for missions that will send astronauts back to the Moon — and eventually onward to Mars — one persistent and invisible threat looms large: radiation. Outside the protective blanket of Earth’s atmosphere and magnetic field, space is saturated with high-energy particles capable of damaging human cells and increasing long-term cancer risks. Now, a Canadian company may be developing a crucial tool to help address that danger.
Bubble Technology Industries (BTI), an Ontario-based defence and aerospace firm, has been awarded a $5.5-million CAD contract by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) to develop a compact radiation-detection instrument designed specifically for use in orbit. The new device, called the Canadian Active Neutron Spectrometer (CANS), will be deployed aboard the International Space Station (ISS) to monitor one of the most complex and potentially harmful forms of radiation astronauts face: neutron radiation.
The Invisible Threat in Space
Radiation in space is fundamentally different from the types most people encounter on Earth. While Earth’s atmosphere and magnetic field absorb and deflect much of the cosmic radiation streaming through the solar system, astronauts in orbit are far more exposed. High-energy particles from the sun and distant cosmic sources can penetrate spacecraft walls and interact with onboard materials, generating secondary radiation.
Among these secondary forms is neutron radiation — highly penetrating particles that result when cosmic rays collide with spacecraft structures, stripping electrons from atoms and leaving unstable nuclei behind. These neutrons can pass through shielding and human tissue, increasing the risk of radiation sickness, bone marrow suppression, and long-term illnesses such as cancer.
Experts estimate that roughly 30 percent of radiation inside space vehicles comes from neutron radiation. Yet measuring it accurately in real time has long been a technical challenge. That’s where CANS comes in.
What Is CANS?
The Canadian Active Neutron Spectrometer is being designed as a compact, autonomous instrument capable of continuously measuring neutron radiation levels in space. Its goal is to provide detailed data about both the intensity and energy spectrum of neutron particles encountered aboard the ISS.
In a statement announcing the contract, Industry Minister Mélanie Joly said the new technology will give researchers “practical data to help protect astronauts from harmful radiation.” That data could inform future spacecraft design, improve shielding strategies, and help mission planners better understand how radiation exposure accumulates over time.
The contract builds on earlier work by BTI. The company previously received a $505,000 Phase A CSA contract to develop a prototype of CANS. It has also collaborated with the CSA on radiation experiments, including providing “bubble monitors” — specialized radiation-detecting tubes — for the Radi-N2 experiment aboard the ISS. Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield was among those involved in earlier radiation research efforts during his time in orbit.
Why It Matters Now
The timing of this development is significant. Space exploration is entering a new era, with longer-duration missions planned beyond low Earth orbit. While the ISS still benefits from partial protection provided by Earth’s magnetosphere, future missions to the Moon and Mars will expose astronauts to even higher radiation levels for extended periods.
Understanding exactly how neutron radiation behaves inside spacecraft — and how much of it astronauts absorb — is essential for reducing long-term health risks. Without accurate measurement tools, designing effective shielding becomes a matter of estimation rather than precision science.
CANS aims to close that knowledge gap. By gathering high-quality neutron radiation data in orbit, scientists can refine risk models and improve safety protocols. The findings may influence everything from spacecraft construction materials to crew rotation schedules and mission durations.
Benefits Beyond Space
While its immediate purpose is astronaut protection, the implications of CANS extend far beyond orbit. Radiation monitoring is also critical in industries such as nuclear energy, medical imaging, cancer treatment, and national security.
BTI, founded in 1988 in Ontario’s Ottawa Valley, specializes in radiation detection hardware and software for defence and aerospace applications. Among its flagship products is FlexSpec, a neutron radiation sensor kit that can be integrated into vehicles, marine vessels, aircraft, and portable systems. The company also manufactures handheld devices like the RadCompass, used by first responders and military personnel to detect radiological threats.
Advancements made in developing CANS could potentially feed back into these terrestrial applications, improving the sensitivity and portability of neutron detection systems used on Earth.
A Canadian Contribution to Global Exploration
Canada has long played a role in international space collaboration, from robotics to astronaut missions. By investing in neutron radiation monitoring technology, the CSA is positioning Canada as a contributor to one of the most pressing safety challenges in deep space exploration.
As missions grow longer and venture farther from Earth, radiation protection will be as critical as propulsion or life support systems. Astronaut health is not only a matter of immediate survival but also long-term well-being after returning home.
Could this Canadian innovation be the key to unlocking safer deep-space travel? It may not eliminate radiation risks entirely — no current technology can — but it promises something just as important: clarity. By precisely measuring neutron exposure in orbit, CANS could provide the actionable data needed to design smarter spacecraft and better protect the people who dare to leave Earth behind.
In the race to explore the Moon and beyond, understanding the invisible hazards of space may prove just as vital as building the rockets that carry astronauts there. And thanks to Canadian ingenuity, the path forward may soon be illuminated — particle by particle.
