CSA Exploration
CSA Exploration. Credit: CSA.

The Canadian Space Agency Looks to Develop 23 Priority Technologies

The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) has issued a notice of proposed procurement for 23 identified Priority Technologies (PT) through the Space Technology Development Program (STDP).

The STDP contracts out research and development with the aim of developing technologies that will meet CSA priorities and mission roadmaps.

The 23 identified technologies are:

  1. Embedded Visual Odometry (EVO)
  2. Light-weight high performance water color imaging spectrometer
  3. Composite Enclosure for Use at Cryogenic Temperature
  4. Wireless Micro Sensor System for Crew Biometric Monitoring
  5. Optical Filter Based Compact Hyperspectral Imager
  6. Soil Hazard Detection for Planetary Rovers
  7. Adaptation of Single Photon Counting Camera for NIR Imaging and Long Range Detection Applications
  8. Modular-CATS
  9. Space Qualifiable Bonded Joints between Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) and Aluminum
  10. Integrated LIBS/Raman Sensor
  11. Wide swath scanning detector
  12. Wide Field of View Fore-Optics Development
  13. Planetary Rover & Onboard Instruments Extreme Environment Survival: Lunar Night Survival
  14. LIDAR-based Optical Communication
  15. QEYSSat Detector Assembly
  16. Biological Sensors for Automated Cell Culture Facility
  17. Cryogenic Translation Mechanism for Future Far Infrared Astronomy Missions
  18. Gallium Nitride (GaN) High Power Amplifier development for C and X-Band Applications
  19. Multi-Channel SAR Receiver
  20. Compact Active Sensor Technology (CAST) Prototype
  21. Advanced Single Photon Counting Auroral Ultraviolet Imager
  22. Miniaturized Plasma Imager
  23. ALI Concept Development Table

Details on these technologies are available in the NPP document available on the procurement page. The closing date for the procurement is April 22, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. EDT.

Depending on the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) covered by each technology development contract periods vary between 15 and 24 months.

While no funding was mentioned in the procurement the government had pledged to increase funding for the program from $10 million to $20 million in the 2015-16 budget as an outcome of the Aerospace Review.

Update: Subsequent to this story being published an amendment was published that included funding amounts for each technology amounting to nearly $15 million.

March 24, 2015 Update: The deadline has been extended until May 6, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. EDT.

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.

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