Earth Observation

This week in space for Canada is quiet but important and all about the boring programs available to help Canadian business making a living off our final frontier.

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).

Earlier today Federal Minister of Industry Tony Clement today announced that the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) has awarded 26 research and development contracts to 15 companies worth a total of $8 million for the CSA Space Technologies Development Program. Details of those contracts have now been released. Two companies received the majority of the funding with MPB Communications Inc. of Pointe-Claire, Quebec receiving five contracts …

The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) released it’s 2008 State of the Canadian Space Sector report today which was prepared by its Policy and External Relations Directorate. According to the report the Canadian space sector employed 6,742 people in 2008 with increasing revenues to $2.79 billion which is a 17.8% increase over the previous year.

This week in space for Canada is all about the amazing money making opportunities available to Canadian firms focused on space activities. As well, we’ll spend a little time looking at a few recent reports indicating ongoing double digit growth for space focused businesses all over the world. Is this a great country or what?

The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) is pleased to announce that it will host a Workshop on Earth Surface-Atmosphere Interactions and Processes in Climate and Air Quality from 1 to 3 December 2009, at the John H. Chapman Space Centre in St-Hubert, Quebec. The workshop has several objectives:

The European Space Agency will be launching a pair of satellites early Sunday evening at 8:50 p.m. EST on a Russian Rockot launcher from the Plesetsk cosmodrome in northern Russia that feature technology demonstrations from three Canadian Companies.

Last week in space for Canada was all about reacting to the final release of the Review of U.S. Human Spaceflight Plans Committee (“The Augustine Report”) and next week in space for Canada is likely to focus on the Canadian Science Policy Conference, being held in Toronto from October 28th – 30th but that leaves a gap this week where we can provide a brief …

Although we only have a few commercial players in the aerospace market we do have a strong skill set, at least according to Space Technologies document available from the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade website which states:

Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) and Astrium announce a contract for a SpaceX Falcon 1e to launch an Earth observation satellite designed by Astrium or its recently acquired subsidiary Surrey Satellite Technology (SSTL).