Canadian Workshop on Composite Structures and Materials for Space Applications

Date: November 14-15, 2011
Location: Canadian Space Agency HQ, Saint-Hubert, QC
Web Site: http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/events/2011/composite.asp
About: The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) is pleased to host a Canadian Workshop on Composite Structures and Materials for Space Applications.
The technology of composite structures and materials has dramatically evolved, advanced, matured over past decades to have applications ranging from laptop computers, sports equipment, automobiles, aircraft, to spacecraft and space vehicles. The key driving force for use of composites in structures is that they offer up to order-of-magnitude improvements in specific stiffness (stiffness-to-density) and specific strength (strength-to-density) ratios, combined with outstanding resistance to fatigue and creep. The near-zero thermal distortion achievable with composites has led to their widespread application in antennas, optical benches, instruments and other components requiring dimensional stability. Canada has a long history to utilize composites to develop space structures, and has developed strong capabilities in design, analysis, fabrication, and testing of composite structures, and niche Canadian space products. The technology of composite structures and materials is foreseen to be crucial for future Canadian missions and commercial space products. This workshop provides an opportunity for representatives from government, industry, and academia to identify future needs of Canadian space missions and Canadian space industries for this technology and discuss the Canadian technology roadmap.
The aims of the workshop include:
– To present the state-of-the-art of the technology of composite structures and materials in aeronautics and astronautics;
– To discuss the needs of Canadian space missions and Canadian space industries for composite structures and materials;
– To present existing Canadian technologies and capacity, and technologies under development;
-To initiate a discussion amongst the Canadian space community stakeholders on the development of technology roadmap of space composite structures and materials and its implementation.

About Marc Boucher

Boucher is an entrepreneur, writer, editor & publisher. He is the founder of SpaceQ Media Inc. and CEO and co-founder of SpaceRef Interactive LLC. Boucher has 20+ years working in various roles in the space industry and a total of 30 years as a technology entrepreneur including creating Maple Square, Canada's first internet directory and search engine.