Space is important both to Canada’s transition to a knowledge-based economy and to the Government of Canada's social, scientific, sovereignty, security, and foreign policy objectives. As an integral part of the Canadian Space Agency and a vital component of Canada’s space infrastructure, the David Florida Laboratory (DFL) makes a concrete contribution to many of these objectives.

The mandate of the David Florida Laboratory is to:

• provide ongoing support to meet the objectives of the Canadian Space Program through the qualification of flight hardware

• provide environmental and radio frequency testing at the system and subsystem level to a range of domestic and off-shore clients on space based and terrestrial programs on a fee-for-service basis

• manage the ongoing schedule of test support to maximize the quality and integrity of the test environment, and minimize any risk to people, facilities, and the test article's safety

• acquire and develop test technology to provide high-value test services and facilities. This ensures effective support for Canada's space program. Provide a mechanism for the transfer to industry of appropriate environmental and radio frequency test technology.

• conduct, in conjunction with industry, marketing activities aimed at increasing opportunities for DFL use

• ensure the cost-effective operation of the DFL by establishing usage priorities and procedures consistent with optimum use of the facilities. This includes the provision of test support for non-space related work to achieve uniform facility loading.