SpaceQ Space news and analysis.
The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) today issued a Request for Information (RFI) to Canadian organizations involved in space technology development and/or research in Canada to provide comments on technical information stemming from the European Space Agency’s (ESA) 1st Semester 2010 Technology Harmonization process led by ESA’s Technology Harmonization Advisory Group (THAG), where the CSA represents the Canadian delegation.
Read More »Canadian Space Agency Supports Prize Competitions
Earlier this fall John Chapman of White Rock, BC, a semi-retired mining expert who is also a strong proponent of commercializing space wrote to Canadian Space Agency (CSA) President Steve MacLean about the creation of prizes to accelerate space related technology. Last week he received a positive response.
Read More »ScanEx Starts to Sell RADARSAT-2 Satellite Data Products
ScanEx of Russia has finalized a distribution agreement with MDA Geospatial Services Inc. to be an official distributor of Canada’s RADARSAT-2 satellite. The application of RADARSAT-2 images will expand the possibilities of radar satellite monitoring of natural and man-made objects and phenomena in Russia.
Read More »MDA To Build Communication Satellite System for Ukraine
The National Space Agency of Ukraine (NSAU) has awarded MDA a contract to build them a communication satellite system including a geostationary communications satellite, two satellite control centres and related ground infrastructure. The deal is worth $254 million dollar (US).
Read More »A Rocket to Call Our Own? Canadian Space Agency Explores the Business Case
The steadily increasing cost of micro satellite launch services has reached the point that the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) is seriously considering the development of an indigenous launch system. In late November they issued a request for proposals (RFP) for a strategic analysis of the market.
Read More »Suborbital Commercialization Takes a Step Forward with Virgin Galactic Unveiling of SpaceShipTwo
Leave it to Sir Richard Branson to put on a show. A lavish unveiling was scheduled for SpaceShipTwo now known as Virgin Mothership (VMS) Eve carrying Virgin Space Ship (VSS) Enterprise. Unfortunately mother nature was not being co-operative with strong winds and a frigid night with even the possibility of snow. Leaving the theatrics behind after a roll-out of the VMS Eve carrying VSS Enterprise …
Read More »Soyuz Leaves International Space Station and Lands Safely in Kazakhstan
Canadian Space Agency Flight Engineer Robert Thirsk, Expedition 21 Flight Engineer and Soyuz Commander Roman Romanenko and European Space Agency Flight Engineer Frank De Winne undocked their Soyuz spacecraft from the station at 10:56 p.m. EST Monday and landed in Kazakhstan at 2:15 a.m. Tuesday, 1:15 p.m. local Kazakhstan time. The Soyuz spacecraft landed upright which helped the search and recovery teams extract the astronauts.
Read More »Return to Earth – Op-Ed by Canadian Astronaut Robert Thirsk
Six months aboard the International Space Station has flown by at orbital speed. If asked to do so, I could remain aboard the Station and continue to perform well. But I feel a fatigue setting in that even weekends and a good night’s sleep cannot relieve. It is now time to return home.
Read More »After Six Months in Space Canadian Astronaut Robert Thirsk Returns to Earth Next Week
Next Tuesday Robert Thirsk will return to Earth on a Russian Soyuz spacecraft ending his six month stay on the International Space Station as a member of Expedition 21. In his last week in space he will be very busy with ongoing experiments but will no doubt have time to reflect on the past six months and among those thoughts will be the realization that …
Read More »Space Shuttle Atlantis Launches with Canadian APEX Experiment on Board
NASA’s space shuttle Atlantis lifted-off today at 2:28 p.m. ET on an 11-day mission to service the the International Space Station (ISS). On-board the shuttle is the Canadian APEX-Cambium (Advanced Plant EXperiments on Orbit) experiment. The experiment will help determine the role gravity plays in trees forming different kinds of wood.
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