Science

The Canadian Astronomical Society / Société Canadienne d'Astronomie (CASCA)'s long-range plan for Canadian astronomy was released this month, setting out astronomical construction, observation and diversity priorities for the next decade. This page is for subscribers only. Already a subscriber? Log in. Fact-driven space news, columns, business, policy, technology and more. Support independent journalism. SUBSCRIBE TODAY

NASA’s Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover, known as the VIPER rover, is a precursor science mission for the Artemis program. It is scheduled to be delivered to the surface of the Moon in December 2022. It’s also important to the space economy.

Jupiter and Saturn are in the midst of a great planetary dance, one which from Earth will result in the two planets appearing side by side in the night sky culminating in the great planetary conjunction on December 21. Even if the skies aren’t clear where you are, you’ll be able to virtually watch the event.

NASA released the Science Definition Team Report for the first human mission to the Moon as part of the Artemis Program. The 188 page Artemis III Science Definition Team Report includes 15 findings and 21 recommendations.

Even before the current COVID-19 pandemic food, security was an issue that many nations were contending with. Research and development on-orbit to address this issue has happened, but it’s been limited. Now, a new commercial effort is looking to bring meaningful solutions to agricultural issues on Earth.

The Canadian Space Agency has awarded six contracts with a total value of $2.9 million for the Phase 0 Science Instruments for its Lunar Exploration Accelerator Program. This page is for subscribers only. Already a subscriber? Log in. Fact-driven space news, columns, business, policy, technology and more. Support independent journalism. SUBSCRIBE TODAY

ABB and Nüvü Camēras, which both have offices in Canada, received a contract to fly exoplanet-hunting camera technology on NASA’s forthcoming Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope.

The unique wide-field view of a Canadian observatory allowed a large team to pinpoint a possible source of a mysterious "fast radio burst" (FRB) in our Milky Way. This page is for subscribers only. Already a subscriber? Log in. Fact-driven space news, columns, business, policy, technology and more. Support independent journalism. SUBSCRIBE TODAY

On Monday the Canadian Space Agency posted a notice on its website informing the space science community of an upcoming opportunity for lunar science investigations through its Lunar Exploration Acceleration Program.

It was scripted to happen this way, but when it did what it was supposed to do, ground controllers and scientists elation was clearly evident. What had just happened? A spacecraft, OSIRIS-REx, had just “touched” down, albeit it for seconds, on asteroid Bennu, grabbed a bunch of “dust and pebbles,” and taken off again with its prize. It lasted mere seconds, yet took years to …