How it works
BTI is contracted to design, deliver and support commissioning of the Canadian Active Neutron Spectrometer for an ISS technology demonstration. CANS is intended to collect neutron-energy spectra automatically, supporting assessment of the neutron contribution to astronaut radiation exposure. CSA’s September 2025 concept requires at least a 1–30 MeV measurement range and separation of neutron signals from charged particles, gamma rays and X-rays; its broader 0.5–100 MeV range was a prediction.
The concept set a 14 kg mass ceiling, excluding the Gateway enclosure, and a 15 W power ceiling, with an approximately 27 × 21 × 18 cm Phase A envelope. These are development requirements. Ground testing, accelerator calibration and a planned six-month ISS demonstration precede the successful Commissioning Review that would permit the next operational phase. The February 2026 contract proves funded work, not completion of those milestones.