SpaceQ Space news and analysis.
Today in Tokyo the leaders of the space agencies from Canada, Europe, Japan, Russia and the United States met to discuss the future of the International Space Station (ISS). The space station is nearing completion and the group noted there are no technical constraints to continue operations beyond 2015 to 2020 and possibly 2028. Extending the lifespan of the station to 2028 is a matter …
Read More »Commercial Space – A Growing Industry in Canada
In the budget released by the government last week was $397 million of new funding for the RADARSAT Constellation Mission. In addition, the Canadian Space Agency had already allocated $100 million for the Constellation. The green light to this project is an important step in maintaining highly skilled jobs and keeping Canada a leader in the Earth Observation field which will benefit the growing Canadian …
Read More »Budget 2010 – The News is not all bad for the Canadian Space Agency
The Canadian Space Agency got the green light to go ahead with the RADARSAT Constellation Mission as reported earlier. The governments Economic Action Plan provided the Canadian Space Agency with $110 million over three years in last years budget. Of that, it was reported that $10 million had been committed while another $36 million will be committed this year. The $36 million for this year …
Read More »RADARSAT Constellation Mission get Funding in Budget
Today’s budget from the government provides the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) with $397 million of new money to help fund the RADARSAT Constellation Mission over 5 years. Along with $100 million that the CSA already has, the CSA will have a total of $497 million for the project. The bulk of the spending will happen after 2011-2012. This project which had already been in the …
Read More »Canadian Throne Speech Hints at Increase in Earth Observation for Arctic Sovereignty
The Conservatives Governments throne speech today, in advance of tomorrow’s budget, only hinted at possible increased funding for Earth Observation for Arctic sovereignty. The text of the speech which dealt with space was rather vague as you can see. “Canada has been a spacefaring nation for nearly 50 years. Our Government will extend support for advanced research, development and prototyping of new space-based technologies, especially …
Read More »Book Review: My Dream of Stars – Simply Captivating
In agreeing to review My Dream of Stars: From Daughter of Iran to Space Pioneer by Anousheh Ansari with Homer Hickam, I was not sure if Anousheh’s story would captivate me or not. I had met Anousheh at Yuri’s Night at NASA Ames on April 12, 2007, seven months after her journey to the International Space Station. At that time I knew little about her …
Read More »Shrinking Budget and No Space Plan puts the Canadian Space Agency in a Bind
On March 4th the federal government will release what is expected to be a frugal budget. This is in part is due to lower tax revenues. The December 2009 deficit was $3.1 billion with revenues down $19.4-billion and program expenses up $22 billion. With revenues down and the deficit climbing the government has signaled that there will be few new spending initiatives and that some …
Read More »Ottawa Citizen – Right Message – Wrong on Facts in Article on Canadian Space Agency
The Ottawa Citizen article “Rocket Science” which appeared in yesterday’s paper was over simplified and got even some of the basic facts wrong. I do however agree with the message of the article that the Government, and in particular Minister of Industry Tony Clement, needs to be proactive and release a new Long Term Space Plan for the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).
Read More »RASC Issues Green Laser Pointer Usage Information
The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada issued the following information for its members. Over the last decade the striking ethereal glow of Green Laser Pointers (GLPs) has become a familiar sight at astronomy education and public outreach (EPO) events, from star parties for beginners to sky-at-night tours around astronomical installations. With the beam of a GLP an astronomy educator can direct an audience unerringly to …
Read More »NASA MODIS Image of Sea Ice in the St. Lawrence River
Sea ice fills the mouth of the St. Lawrence River in this image, captured by the MODIS on the Aqua satellite on January 17, 2010. The St. Lawrence River carries water from the Great Lakes out into the Gulf of St. Lawrence and then into the Atlantic Ocean.
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