Staff Editor

This news story was written by a Staff Writer.

Growth in Space Utilization to Benefit Canadians

He didn’t once mention the term “geomatics,” but that is certainly what Canadian Space Agency (CSA) President Steve MacLean was referencing when he said that data obtained about the Earth from space “now has the precision to contribute meaningfully to Earth based activities” such as resource tracking, mining, farming and industry. MacLean made the comment during his keynote address at the University of Toronto Space …

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This Week in Space for Canada

The US National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency exercises an option for more data from RADARSAT II and COM DEV International hires the very experienced ex-president of Rogers Telecom and Spar Space Systems to sit on the HR and compensation committees. Meanwhile, back in the ivory tower, the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) posts two new funding opportunities for Canadian universities looking to participate in the Mars Science Laboratory. …

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This Week in Space for Canada

The state of the Canadian space sector is seemingly good, with both jobs and revenue up plus Canadian based Neptec Design receiving the prestigious George M. Low Award from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). But the state of our long term American partners is bad and many of the “commercial space” changes proposed by the Obama administration could potentially be rolled back in …

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Professional Astronomers "Unraveling the Universe"

According to Philomena Bonis, the real reason why she hosted the Astronomy & Space Exploration Society (ASX) 8th Annual Expanding Canada’s Frontier Symposium, on Friday, January 28th, at the University of Toronto Convocation Hall was to show that “the passions, the dreams and the interests of ordinary people can turn a series of seemingly small steps into something extraordinary.”

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This Week in Space for Canada

The CBC “mothercorp” reports (incorrectly) that “NASA has a long-term obligation with other partners to provide (the CSA) with transportation to the ISS” and others wonder what ever happened to the Canadian Space Agency‘s (CSA) annual report on the “State of the Canadian Space Sector” which was due for release in December 2010? All that plus the 2011 Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute (CASI) Presidents …

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MSCI Making Pitch for Telecom Financing

The recent announcement by Microsat Systems Canada (MSCI) CEO David Cooper that his company is “launching a new initiative” to build a constellation of 78 small, relatively low-flying satellites designed to relieve internet and smart phone congestion and provide broadband access in rural locations, highlights the differences between small space focused Canadian firms and their larger commercial satellite and internet service provider cousins.

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This Week in Space for Canada

Mississauga-based Microsat Systems Canada (MSCI) announces it’s building a massive (perhaps too good to be true) constellation of 78 small, relatively low-flying satellites designed to relieve network smart phone congestion. Macdonald Dettwiler (MDA) will be “exercising an option” for additional work on the Orbital Sciences Corporation (Orbital) developed Cygnus cargo spacecraft and even ComDev International gets a new military contract from the US government. All …

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This Week in Space for Canada

NASA “sole sources” a $31.2 million contract to a US firm to “execute demonstrations” on the Canadian built Dextre robot as the James Webb Space Telescope goes so far over budget as to endanger other NASA programs. This seems only to encourage the beleaguered US space agency to obsess painfully about whether it should be listening to “Homer Simpson” or “Elon Musk.” All that and …

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This Week in Space for Canada

The Canadian Press quotes Canadian Space Agency (CSA) president Steve MacLean as stating that Canadian astronauts could end up riding to the International Space Station (ISS) on board commercial vehicles but forgets to ask why or how. Former Optech International Director and current Google Lunar X-Prize competitor Robert Richards dodges the fictional Kobayashi Maru test of character by moving to the US, plus potential Telesat …

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This Week in Space for Canada

NASA follows ESA to put out a call for “commercial suborbital flight services” for microgravity testing, Macdonald Dettwiler (MDA) continues its exceptional run of good luck with government contracts relating to space and military surveillance technologies up 71% from fiscal year 2009 and DEXTRE finally rolls out for duty on board the ISS. All that and my personal best wishes to everyone during the holiday …

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