Bubble Technology Industries Inc.

Published purpose

The proposed project aims to develop and harden light readout technologies required for radiation spectrometers for exploration-class space missions to the Moon and beyond. Bubble Technology Industries (BTI) is currently developing radiation spectrometers for life science and planetary science purposes, using silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) to read out the light from scintillator detectors. In previous work, SiPMs have been demonstrated in the laboratory; however, hardening is required to optimize the technology for long deployments in deep space. In the proposed work, compact sensor packages will be developed that are miniaturized and hardened for space applications. It is expected that the novel systems developed for space will lead to a number of spin-off technologies to be used in a wide range of terrestrial applications, including: defence and homeland security through nuclear, explosives, and contraband detection; radiation protection of aircrew personnel; applications in proton therapy; and advancement of fundamental science through research contracts.