The European Space Agency’s (ESA) CryoSat-2 earth observation satellite was successfully launched yesterday from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on a Russian Dnepr rocket. As a cooperating member of ESA, the Canadian Space Agency is contributing to ESA’s Earth Observation Envelope Programme and therefore is participating in the mission.
Read More »Smooth Launch for Space Shuttle Discovery
You know it’s a quiet mission when the journalists are more focused on milestones than the missile just launched. An hour after the near-flawless dawn flight to space by shuttle Discovery on April 5, the reporters on site talked about this fourth-last flight of the program, that record number of women in space, and the two Japanese meeting face to face for the first time.
Read More »Canadian Space Agency Reorganization Underway
The federal government on March 25th released the 2010-2011 Canadian Space Agency (CSA) Report on Plans and Priorities. The report indicates that in anticipation of Cabinet and Treasury Board approval of the Long Term Space Plan (LTSP), a reorganization is underway. The much anticipated 10 year LTSP would begin to be implemented this year as soon as the government approves the plan.
Read More »Launch of Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-131)
The seven-member STS-131 crew headed to the International Space Station aboard space shuttle Discovery after its launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center at 6:21 a.m. EDT. The liftoff came 45 minutes before sunrise Monday, Apr. 5, and lit up Florida’s Space Coast sky. The STS-131 Commander is Alan Poindexter; Jim Dutton is the Pilot and the Mission Specialists are Rick Mastracchio, Dottie Metcalf-Lindenburger, Stephanie Wilson, …
Read More »This Week in Space For Canada
This week in space for Canada is focused on a rather interesting article by Peter Rakobowchuk of the Canadian Press that initially showed up Sunday in partial form under the title “Space Agency eyes Cape Breton for satellite launch” on the CTV news website. Since then, the story and the internet buzz have both continued to grow.
Read More »Canadian Space Science Data Portal Prepares for CASSIOPE Data
Canadian scientists will receive a gold mine of new data soon after the CAScade, Smallsat and IOnospheric Polar Explorer (CASSIOPE) satellite launches in 2011. Scientists will be able to access the data though a central web site, the newly upgraded Canadian Space Science Data Portal (CSSDP) on the ultra-high speed Canada Advanced Research and Innovation Network (CANARIE).
Read More »NASA's Bolden Testifies before House Subcommittee on NASA's Budget and Direction
NASA chief Charles Bolden testified today before the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies. Bolden was extremely supportive of the Presidents new plan for NASA saying “…the President put forward what I believe to be the most authentically visionary policy for real human space exploration that we have ever had.”
Read More »Imagine Seeing the First Stars – A Video Trailer
A new NASA teaser video was released yesterday for the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). And it’s all about imagining what discoveries this next generation telescope and successor to the Hubble Space Telescope will find. Canada is a major contributor providing the Fine Guidance Sensor (FGS) and Tuneable Filter Imager (TFI). The JWST is schedule to be launched in 2014.
Read More »This Week in Space For Canada
This week in space for Canada is all about developing an inventory of the commercial space focused activities occurring last week and comparing them to what’s happening, or maybe not happening, at the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).
Read More »Research Potential on the International Space Station
In today’s Ottawa Citizen article “What does $100 billion buy?” they ask fair questions in “… how valuable this research in space has been, and does having a space station really add prestige, or industrial competence, or an innovative edge to a country?” with respect to how Canada benefits and humanity as a whole. “The space station must impress us on a new level: Treating …
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