For the neutron radiation environment in the low-earth orbit of the space station, this study develops a space neutron detector based on silicon stack sensors. The detector uses nuclear recoil method and nuclear reaction method to carry out indirect detection of neutrons and obtains the energy spectrum information of neutron radiation in the orbit of the space station. The proposed space neutron detector can detect space neutrons in a range of 0.025 eV to 10 MeV. The space neutron detector was equipped on the Space Radiation Biology Exposure Experiment Device carried by the Mengtian laboratory cabin module of the Tiangong Space Station. The neutron detector is used to provide real-time monitoring of the orbital neutron environment of the space station and obtain on-orbit detection data. This provides an important basis for investigating the mechanism of radiation effects caused by space neutrons on organisms and astronauts and provides necessary space environment parameters for examining single-event effects caused by secondary particles on electronic components of spacecraft.

pace neutron detector, space neutron radiation environment, silicon sensor, neutron spectrum measurement, Mengtian laboratory cabin module of the Tiangong Space Station