Federal Science and Technology: The Pursuit of Excellence - Appendix

The Canadian Space Agency

Science and Technology Achievements in 2003

Established in 1989, with its headquarters in Longueuil, Quebec, the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) coordinates all aspects of the Canadian Space Program (CSP). Through its Space Knowledge, Applications and Industry Development business line, the CSA delivers services involving Earth and the environment, space science, human presence in space, satellite communications, space technology, space qualification services, and space awareness and education. The CSA is at the forefront of the development and application of space knowledge for the benefit of Canadians and all humanity.

Earth and Environment

The CSA celebrated eight productive years in space with RADARSAT-1, surpassing all expectations for a mission that was initially planned for five years. Its daily applications are innumerable in such domains as ice monitoring, forestry, cartography and oceanography. RADARSAT-1 has literally mapped the world, and has most recently been used in emergency situations as part of the International Charter on Space and Natural Disasters. It most notably provided images of the flooding in B.C. that caused such extensive damage to the province. Internationally, RADARSAT-1 provided images of the Prestige oil spill near Spain’s coastline, and of the Stromboli volcanic eruption in Italy, demonstrating the range and utility of images produced by the satellite. An agreement was signed with the Government of Yukon to provide access to RADARSAT-1 data and data products. The information will be particularly useful for improving natural resource management, land-use planning and resource development.

Space Science

The Canadian space science community experienced a very exciting year in 2003. Among its many realizations, the CSA successfully launched SCISAT and MOST (Micro-variability and Oscillations of STars). During SCISAT’s two-year mission, it is helping a team of Canadian and international scientists improve their understanding of the depletion of the ozone layer, with a special emphasis on the changes occurring over Canada and in the Arctic. This information will indeed help policy-makers assess existing environmental policy and develop protective measures for improving the health of our atmosphere. The CSA also launched its first space telescope (MOST). Canada has built the world’s smallest space telescope, an instrument that helps us better understand our universe by looking at neighbouring stars. MOST, which is packed in a microsatellite the size and mass of a suitcase, will make some specialized astronomical observations beyond the capacity of any other instrument on Earth or in space. It is designed to probe the interior of stars, set a limit on the age of the universe and, for the first time, detect light reflected by little-known planets beyond our solar system.

Human Presence in Space

The CSA and the Institute for Robotics and Intelligent Systems (IRIS) announced the creation of a new program that will fund Canadian university space researchers and encourage them to build industry alliances. The CSA-IRIS Cooperation Program will provide academic researchers in Canada with one-year funding to investigate new research opportunities in advanced intelligent systems technologies in space telerobotics and telemedicine. A team of Russian and Canadian space researchers and engineers has successfully pushed back the technology envelope, developing an on-site trainer for the International Space Station. The System for Maintaining and Monitoring Performance’s On-Orbit MSS Astronaut Training System consists of a small laptop computer and two hand controls. Training and analysis modules incorporated in the system allow astronauts to practice, among other things, capturing free-flying objects, such as small satellites, which is the most difficult task that a Canadarm2 operator may be required to perform.

Satellite Communications

An agreement was signed between the CSA and the European Space Agency (ESA) that ensures Canada’s participation in the development and validation phase of Europe’s Galileo Program. Galileo will be the first satellite positioning and navigation system intended specifically for civilian purposes, and it will improve the reliability and availability of navigation and positioning services worldwide. The CSA’s contribution allows Canadian companies to take an active part in the program. Also in 2003, the Government of Canada’s National Satellite Initiative was launched. This joint project between Infrastructure Canada, Industry Canada and the CSA will provide high-speed broadband Internet access services via satellite to communities located in the Far and Mid North, and in other isolated or remote areas of Canada. This initiative will help to ensure that Canadians living in these regions have a prosperous economic and social future, in particular through improved access to telehealth, e-business and distance-learning services. The majority of the approximately 400 communities currently targeted by this initiative are Aboriginal.

Generic Space Technologies

Through its generic space technologies development programs, the CSA is driving the design of leading space technologies. In 2003, more than $65 million in contracts were awarded to Canadian industry. Forty contracts, valued at a total of $17.4 million, were awarded through the CSA’s Space Technology Development Program. Companies will develop innovative space technologies ranging from satellite equipment to space robotics. Eleven companies also signed deals, worth a total of $47.6 million, with the ESA to develop innovative space technologies for their Earth Observation, Communications, Space Exploration and Generic Technologies programs. These programs are financially supported by Canada through the CSA-ESA collaboration program. Finally, the CSA awarded more than $3 million in contracts to Canadian companies to develop leading-edge uses of space-based Earth observation data and applications. The contracts were awarded through the CSA’s Earth Observation Application Development Program, which is designed as a single-window channel to support industry initiatives focussed on the development of Earth observation applications.

Space Qualification Services

During the year, both the MOST and the SCISAT-1 satellites underwent extensive series of tests at the CSA’s David Florida Laboratory (DFL). Tests included thermal vacuum, vibration and radio frequency testing. MOST was subsequently successfully launched on June 30, 2003, and SCISAT-1 on August 13, 2003. A significant amount of effort was also dedicated to test preparations in advance of the RADARSAT-2 Program. The DFL also supported the test program for the U.S. space shuttle observation boom. The observation boom will serve as an extension to the space shuttle remote manipulator system (Canadarm), allowing the arm to scan or inspect, in space, almost every square inch of the shuttle. Finally, the DFL successfully completed the transition to the new ISO 9001:2000 standard. The two most significant changes are a stronger customer-oriented focus, along with an extensive concentration on achieving customer satisfaction, and a major emphasis on continuous improvement.

Space Awareness and Education

A three-day Space Educators’ Conference was held at the CSA’s headquarters. One hundred and twenty educators from across Canada were treated to presentations and hands-on workshops on topics ranging from unearthing the secrets of Mars and bringing space technologies down to Earth, to capturing climate change and troubleshooting in a space environment. CSA astronauts helped them explore the themes of life support requirements on Mars and the science of spacesuits. Committed to supporting the education community’s efforts, the CSA develops innovative resources and opportunities, such as this conference, to improve scientific and technological literacy among young Canadians and to increase the number of students pursuing careers in science and engineering. Canadian university students were awarded prestigious scientific scholarships to participate in summer training programs at NASA facilities in Florida and California. Students participated in the NASA Astrobiology Academy, a ten-week summer internship at the Ames Research Center in California, or took part in the six-week program held at the John F. Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Contact Information
Government Liaison Office
Canadian Space Agency
Tel.: (613) 993-3771
Web site: www.space.gc.ca