Monitoring radiation for astronaut health
Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut David Saint-Jacques using bubble detectors, a predecessor to Canadian Active Neutron Spectrometer (CANS), on the International Space Station (ISS). (Credits: CSA/ NASA)
2026-02-26
Radiation is one of the key challenges faced by astronauts living and working beyond the protective shield of Earth's atmosphere. As Canada and its international partners advance plans for missions to the Moon, and eventually Mars, the CSA continues to invest in technology to better understand exposure levels.
The CSA has awarded a contract of $5.5 million to Bubble Technology Industries for the continued development of the CANS, a compact and autonomous instrument designed to measure neutron radiation exposure in space.
Neutron radiation, which contributes to about 30% of total radiation on the ISS, is especially harmful because it can cause serious biological damage and require specialized protective measures. For over 25 years, the ISS has been a test bed for new technology. Canada has significant expertise in radiation detection experiments on the ISS, including MOSFET, EVARM and Radi-N and Radi-N2.
CANS improves upon previous radiation detection methods with the unique combined capabilities of working continuously and autonomously. Data collected could help develop better measures to reduce risks for astronauts' health and also has potential applications on Earth, including cancer therapy, radiation protection for aircrews, nuclear threat detection and public safety, among others.
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