Business

Short Cuts: Free Trade with EU a Problem for Industry, GHGSat Celebrates Milestone and More

In today’s Short Cuts: Industry sources tell SpaceRef Canada they have serious concerns over the free trade deal with the European Union. GHGSat, which hopes to launch two new satellites in the short term, passes a milestone with its Claire satellite. The National Research Council announces an Enhanced Virtual Observatory for the scientific community and more. If you would like to submit a Short Cut, …

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Short Cuts: Dr. Robert Thirsk Interview, Op Ed on Small Satellites, On-Orbit Servicing and More

In today’s Short Cuts: We provide an Op-Ed on small satellite manufacturing in Canada, Work, Not Work Podcast interviews Dr. Robert Thirsk, MDA’s U.S. acquisition SSL gets long sought after satellite servicing contract, Canada searches for a Chief Science Advisor and more. If you would like to submit a Short Cut, please email us at [email protected]

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The Restore-L servicer extends its robotic arm to grasp and refuel a client satellite on orbit.

MDA Scores a Win in Long Sought After Satellite Servicing Business Segment

It seems patience pays off. NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) yesterday announced that MDA’s U.S. subsidiary Space Systems Loral (SSL) has won a $127 million contract to develop the Restore-L Spacecraft Bus which will be used to service a government satellite in low earth orbit. According to the NASA press release, SSL “will provide spacecraft bus, critical hardware and services for the development, deployment …

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Op Ed – The Government Should Support Canada Becoming a Small Satellite Manufacturing Hub

Recently, there has been noteworthy news related to small satellites. First and significantly, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released details of new applications from companies wanting to deploy constellations of small satellites, most in non-geostationary orbits (NGSO). This included applications from two Canadian companies, Kepler Communications and Telesat. The total number of planned NGSO satellites in applications filled since June of this year, is …

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Short Cuts: The Commercial Ecosystem, SEDS Canada, Kepler Communications, Virtual Reality and More

In today’s Short Cuts: The final story in our series from the Canadian Space Policy Symposium is available, SEDS Canada offers an op-ed on the space programs budget and moves forward with their Young Space Entrepreneurs Competition, Kepler Communications makes a choice on a company to build their prototype satellites, the Canadian Space Agency funds a new study using virtual reality to help astronauts and …

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The Commercial Ecosystem from the 2016 Space Policy Symposium

On Tuesday, November 8th some 90 people gathered at the Shaw Centre in Ottawa for the 1st Canadian Space Policy Summit organized by the Canadian Space Commerce Association. Representatives from industry, academia, not-for-profits and government discussed a variety of policy issues with a planned outcome of putting together a recommendations report to be disseminated, and in particular, provided to Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada …

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Short Cuts: New Space Strategy Coming in June 2017, a Balanced Space Program and more

In today's Short Cuts: Minister Bains, in remarks at the 2016 Canadian Aerospace Summit last week, said that a new space strategy will be launched next June with the new Space Advisory Board supporting the development of long term priorities for Canada's space program. In part two of our series on the Canadian Space Policy Symposium we hear about the need for a balanced space program. The Fourth Canadian Satellite Design Challenge begins, iREx grants, Aerospace cluster and more.

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A Balanced Space Program from the 2016 Space Policy Symposium

On Tuesday, November 8th some 90* people gathered at the Shaw Centre in Ottawa for the 1st Canadian Space Policy Summit organized by the Canadian Space Commerce Association. Representatives from industry, academia, not-for-profits and government discussed a variety of policy issues with a planned outcome of putting together a recommendations report to be disseminated, and in particular, provided to Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada …

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Details Emerge on Kepler Communications and Telesat Small Satellite Constellations

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released details this week of applicants seeking to build a variety of satellite constellations. The most dramatic application came from SpaceX who are looking to build 4,425 small satellites to be used in low earth orbit. From the Canadian perspective, there were two applications, that of Kepler Communications who are based out of Toronto, and Ottawa’s Telesat.

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Video – Cubes in Space 2017 Conference: Launching Canada into Space

Today the Canada Aviation and Space Museum is hosting the Cubes in Space 2017 Conference: Launching Canada into Space. The event brings together more than 100 elementary and high school students from the National Capital Region. The event was organized by idoodledu inc, founders and creators of the Cubes in Space competition. The Cubes in Space competition is a global design challenge for students ages …

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