News

The main success of the International Space Exploration Coordination Group (ISECG) is allowing Canada to keep an eye out on what other countries are doing and to develop programs in parallel, according to the Canadian Space Agency’s (CSA) Victoria Hipkin. The program scientist for planetary exploration is a co-author on a paper explaining ISECG’s importance; it will be presented at the Lunar Exploration Analysis Group …

The Space Security Index (SSI) releases its seventh annual report just in time for the Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee (COMSTAC) teleconference on space debris and traffic management. Meanwhile, completed Canadian components of the James Webb Space Telescope begin showing up at Goddard Space Flight Center for final testing and MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates (MDA) Chief Executive Daniel Friedmann states that his company “hasn’t always …

Com Dev International‘s CEO gets fired but shouldn’t feel lonely since up to 5% of the firms labour force could be joining him on the unemployment lines due to ongoing problems with government satellite contracts. Meanwhile Carleton University sets up a Canada-India centre of excellence in science, technology, trade and policy and an ex-french paratrooper living in North Battleford plans to skydive from 120,000 feet. …

NASA’s next-generation, five-segment solid rocket development motor — DM-2 — is successfully cold-fired in its test stand at ATK’s facility in Promontory, Utah. Also, NASA’s Chief Technologist visits facilities developing cutting-edge technologies at three NASA centers. Plus, MMS passes its critical design review; Glenn hosts a groundbreaking for its new central office building; NASA needs deejays; and the agency’s one-girl food drive force in West …

Solar Probe Plus, a new NASA mission to visit and study the sun closer than ever before, is officially underway. The spacecraft will plunge directly into the sun’s atmosphere at approximately 4 million miles from the surface into a region no other spacecraft has ever encountered.

This week’s news that veteran Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield was going to be the first Canadian to command the International Space Station while spending six months onboard also meant that Canada has used up its last available contracted launch seat to the International Space Station (ISS). And since Canada has no launch capability of its own, it is now in negotiation to secure launch access …

After yesterday’s announcement that veteran Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield would be flying on a six month long flight and serve as Commander of the International Space Station Hadfield’s sons promptly helped him setup a Twitter account and Facebook page, a first for a Canadian astronaut.