Canadian Space Agency

The Canadian Space Agency (English: Canadian Space Agency [CSA]; French: Agence spatiale canadienne [ASC]) is The agency that manages Canada's space program.

Canadarm 2 (left) mounted at the international space station.

Canada was the third country, after the Soviet Union and the United States, to launch an artificial satellite, in 1962.

The CSA/ASC headquarters are located at the John H. Chapman Space Center in Longueuil, Quebec. The agency also has offices in Ottawa, Ontario, at the David Florida Laboratory, and small liaison offices in Houston, Washington D.C., and Paris.

History

The origins of Canada's upper atmosphere and space program can be traced to the end of World War II. Between 1945 and 1960, Canada undertook a series of small projects involving launchers and satellites under the auspices of spacecraft research. defence, including the development of the Black Brant rocket, as well as a series of advanced studies examining both orbital reunion and reentry. In 1957, scientists and engineers at the Canadian Defense Research Telecommunications Establishment (DRTE), under Under the leadership of John H. Chapman, they embarked on a project initially known simply as S-27 or the Top Project. This work would soon lead to the development of Canada's first satellite known as Alouette 1.

These and other space-related activities in the 1980s forced the Canadian government to enact the Canadian Space Agency Act, which established the Canadian Space Agency. The Act received royal assent on May 10, 1990, and came into force on December 14, 1990.

In 1999, the CSA/ASC moved from project-based funding to "A-base" and was given a fixed annual budget of $300 million. The actual budget varies from year to year due to additional appropriations and special projects.

The mandate of the Canadian Space Agency is to promote the peaceful use and development of space, to promote knowledge of space through science, and to ensure that space science and technology provide social and economic benefits for Canadians. The Canadian Space Agency's mission statement says that the agency is committed to leading the development and application of space knowledge for the benefit of Canadians and humanity.

Presidents

• 1989 - 4 May 1992 - Larkin Kerwin
• 4 May 1992 - 15 July 1994 - Roland Doré
• 21 November 1994 - 2001 - William MacDonald Evans
• 22 November 2001 - 28 November 2005 - Marc Garneau
• 12 April 2007 - 31 December 2007 - Larry J. Boisvert
• 1 January 2008 - 2 September 2008 - Guy Bujold
• September 2, 2008 - February 1, 2013 - Steven MacLean
• 2 February 2013 - 5 August 2013 - Gilles Leclerc (internal)
• August 6, 2013 - November 3, 2014 - Walter Natynczyk
• 3 November 2014 - 9 March 2015 - Luc Brûlé, (internal)
• March 9, 2015 - Sylvain Laporte

Cooperation with the European Space Agency

CSA/ASC has been a Collaborating State of the European Space Agency (ESA) since the 1970s, and has various formal and informal partnerships and collaborative programs with space agencies in other countries, such as NASA, ISRO, JAXA, and the SNSB.

Canada's collaboration with Europe in space activities predates both the European Space Agency and the Canadian Space Agency. Since 1968, Canada has obtained observer status at the European Space Conference (ESC), a world-class organization. ministerial body established to determine future European space activities, and continued in this limited role after the creation of ESA in 1975. Since 1 January 1979, Canada has had the special status of a "Cooperating State" with ESA, paying for the privilege and also investing in working time and providing scientific instruments that are placed on ESA's probes. Canada is allowed to participate in optional programs; it also has to contribute to the General Budget, but not as much as associated membership would have implied. This state was unique at the time and remains so today.

On December 15, 2010, the agreement was renewed for another 10 years, until 2020. Under this agreement, Canada participates in ESA's deliberative and decision-making bodies and in ESA's programs and activities. the ESA. Canadian companies can bid and receive contracts to work on programs. The agreement has a provision that specifically guarantees a fair industrial return to Canada. The head of the Canadian delegation to ESA is the president of the Canadian Space Agency. As of February 2009, there are currently 30 Canadians working as staff members at ESA.

Canadian Space Program

Canadarm (right) during the STS-72 space shuttle mission

The mobile base system just before Canadarm2 installed it in Mobile Transporter during STS-111

Canadian space program is administered by the country's space agency. Canada has contributed technology, expertise and personnel to the global space effort, especially in collaboration with ESA and NASA. In addition to its astronauts and satellites, some of Canada's most notable technological contributions to space exploration include the Canadarm on the Space Shuttle and Canadarm2 on the International Space Station.

Canada's contribution to the International Space Station (ISS) is the $1.3 billion mobile service system. It consists of Canadarm2 (SSRMS), Dextre (SPDM), Mobile Base System (MBS) and multiple robotics workstations that form the Mobile Service System on the ISS. Canadarm, Canadarm2 and Dextre employ the Advanced Space Vision System which allows for more efficient use of the robotic arms. Another Canadian technology of note is the Orbiter plume sensor system, which was an extension to the original Canadarm used to inspect the Space Shuttle's thermal protection system for damage while in orbit. Prior to the Space Shuttle's retirement, the boom was modified for use with Canadarm2 and STS-134 dropped it for use on the ISS.

Canadian Astronauts

There have been four astronaut recruitment drives for the CSA/ASC. The first, in 1983, led to the selection of Roberta Bondar, Marc Garneau, Robert Thirsk, Ken Money, Bjarni Tryggvason and Steve MacLean. The second, in 1992, selected Chris Hadfield, Julie Payette, Dafydd Williams and Michael McKay. On May 13, 2009, after completing a third selection process, it was announced that two new astronauts, Jeremy Hansen and David Saint-Jacques, had been chosen. The last recruitment drive was launched in 2016, with a total of 3,772 applicants for 2 candidates. In 2017, Joshua Kutryk and Jennifer Sidey were chosen.

Nine Canadians have participated in 17 total crewed missions: 14 NASA Space Shuttle missions (including one mission to Mir) and 3 Roscosmos Soyuz missions.

Two former Canadian astronauts never flew in space; Michael McKay resigned for medical reasons and Ken Money resigned in 1992, eight years after his selection.

On December 19, 2012, Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield boarded a Soyuz spacecraft to reach the International Space Station. This mission marked the completion of NASA's compensation to Canada for its contribution to the Shuttle and International Space Station programs, meaning there were no remaining confirmed spaceflight opportunities for Canadian astronauts. As of June 2015, the Canadian government announced a renewed commitment to the International Space Station, securing flights for Canada's two remaining active astronauts. In May 2016, the CSA/ASC announced that David Saint-Jacques would fly to the International Space Station aboard a Roscosmos Soyuz rocket in November 2018 for 6 months, as part of the Expedition 58/59 crew.

Canadian Satellites

The Alouette 1 was the first non-Soviet or American satellite.

In addition, there are commercial satellites launched by the telecommunications company Telesat, a former Crown corporation that was privatized in 1998. These are the Anik satellites, the Nimiq satellites (all currently used by Bell TV), and MSAT-1. In addition, technological and research satellites have been developed by UTIAS-SFL, including the CanX program, ExactView-9 and GHGSat-D.

International projects

The Canadian Space Agency contributes to many international projects, including satellites, rovers and space telescopes. The CSA/ASC has contributed components to ESA, NASA, ISRO, JAXA and SNSB projects in the past. Canada is currently contributing the Fine Guidance Sensor for NASA's upcoming launch of the James Webb Space Telescope.

In addition, Canadian universities and aerospace contractors, including the University of Calgary, UTIAS-SFL, COM DEV, MDA, Magellan Aerospace, Telesat, and others, have provided components to various international space agencies.

Facilities

• John H. Chapman Space Centre – Longueuil (Quebec)
• David Florida Laboratory – Ottawa (Ontario)
• Canadian Space Agency Building – Innovation Place Research Park – Saskatoon (Saskatchewan)

The Canadian Space Agency and its predecessors have used several launch facilities:

Canada

• Churchill Rocket Research Range / Canadian Space Port (SpacePort Canada), Manitoba (DRB / NRC)

United States

• Cabo Cañaveral, Florida (NASA)
• Vandenberg Air Force Base, California (USAF)
• Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia (NASA)

Other international

• Satish Dhawan Space Centre, India (ISRO).
• Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan (Roscosmos Trained).
• Dombarovsky Air Base, Russia (Russian Air Force).
• Cosmodrome of Plesetsk, Russia (Roscosmos).

Future Programs

With the successful launch of Radarsat-2 in December 2007 and the completion of Canada's C$1.4 billion contribution to the International Space Station in early 2008, the CSA/ASC found itself without any major development projects. follow-up. Marc Garneau, Canada's first astronaut and former head of the Canadian agency, highlighted this fact and in the fall of 2007 called on the Canadian government to develop and institute a space policy for Canada.

A modest step has been taken to resolve this issue. In November 2008, the Agency signed a 16-month, US$40 million contract with MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates of Vancouver to begin design of the RADARSAT Constellation Earth observation mission (3 satellites). In August 2010, the Agency additional funding was awarded for detailed design work scheduled for completion in 2012. Launch of all three satellites is scheduled for NET March 2019. Also in the 2009 federal budget, the agency received funding for preliminary design of lunar rovers and Martians.

On February 28, 2019, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Canada's commitment to the Lunar Gateway, an international project led by NASA to put a small space station into lunar orbit. The announcement made Canada the first international partner in the Lunar Gateway project. As part of the announcement, Canada has committed to spending $2.05 billion over 24 years to develop the next generation of Canadarm 3. This marks Canada's largest financial commitment to a single project, surpassing $1.7 billion. dollars spent on projects for the International Space Station.

Several initiatives are unfunded. The CSA/ASC is the lead agency for the Polar Communication and Weather (PCW) mission which involves the proposed launch of two satellites into polar orbit to provide Canadian authorities with better weather information and capabilities. of communication in the high arctic. Launch of the two satellites was proposed to take place in 2016, but funding could not be obtained and the program was cancelled.

Rockets

Launch of a Canadian Black Brant XII from Wallops Flight Installation

The Canadian Space Agency does not have native space launch systems beyond sounding rockets. Canada relies on other countries, such as the United States, India and Russia, to launch its spacecraft into orbit, but both the Department of Defense and the space agency are studying the option of building a Canadian-made launcher.

The CSA/ASC announced in 2011 that it was investigating locations in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia or the possible reopening of the Churchill Rocket research range in Manitoba for a microsatellite launch site (150 kg) to end its reliance on foreign launch providers. However, Canadian politicians rarely change funding without having at least some idea of the economic, social and national defense benefits that could reasonably be derived from their constituents from the program. Another possible location, CFB Suffield, remains an option. According to Canadian Space Agency officials, a large-scale project would take 10–12 years to design and build a small satellite launcher. No funding has been announced for these activities.

Although a new launch facility in Canso, Nova Scotia is in progress (operation expected in 2020), its intended use is for commercial launches of the Ukrainian Cyclone-4M rocket. The installation is a project of the company Maritime Launch Services. Any CSA/ASC involvement has not been announced.