Technology

ABB Canada will provide key technologies in the development of an instrument to be used to make meteorological observations onboard satellites for the Canadian Space Agency’s Polar Communications and Weather (PCW) mission.

When the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System Preparatory Project (NPP) is launched Friday, an interferometer built by the ABB company will be onboard. The first of a new generation of US meteorological satellites is to be launched by NASA on October 28, at 5:48:01 a.m. EDT.

Ottawa based Neptec scored its first post-Shuttle contract last week when it reached an agreement with Orbital Sciences Corporation to provide its TriDAR rendezvous and docking sensor for Orbital’s Cygnus spacecraft.

The European Space Agency (ESA) is soliciting ideas and interest for their Technology Transfer Programme (TTP). Since 1979 Canada has had a cooperating agreement with ESA meaning Canadians could participate in some ESA programs. The TTP is one such program where Canadians can participate in.

Nautilus-X – NASA’s Multi-mission Space Exploration Vehicle Concept – Long-duration space journey vehicle for crew of 6 for periods of 1 -24 months – CIS-lunar would be initial Operations Zone [shakedown phase] – Exo-atmospheric, Space-only vehicle – Integrated Centrifuge for Crew Health – Life Support in deployed Large Volume with shirt-sleeve servicing – Truss & Stringer thrust-load distribution concept (non-orthogird) – Capable of utilizing variety …

Next Friday in Toronto the Canadian Space Commerce Association will be holding it’s annual meeting with the theme The Next Breakthrough Space Technologies for Canada. The event will bring together executives, business owners, independent consultants, venture capitalists, scientists, engineers, R&D managers and students. Some of Canada’s top commercial space companies will be represented along with smaller new companies, academia, the military and the Canadian Space …

See how the European Space Agency’s ATV-2 nicknamed the Johannes Kepler was made. From pieces and parts to mighty spacecraft sitting atop of Ariane 5 launcher. The Johannes Kepler will carry approximately 6.6 tonnes of cargo to the International Space Station on a resupply mission. ESA’s ATV’s are sent on resupply missions approximately every 17 months.

The Neptec Design Group based in Ottawa was one of four recipients of the prestigious annual George M. Low Award presented by NASA and the first non-U.S. company to win the award.

Dextre, the Canadian Space Agency’s robotic “handyman”, is featured in this image photographed by an Expedition 26 crew member aboard the International Space Station on Feb. 3, 2011.

Canada’s Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator or Dextre for Short having past its final exams in December is now officially on the job. It was 11 days ago that the Japanese H-2B Transfer Vehicle (HTV2) or as it is known as, Kounotori2, docked with the International Space Station with the help of another Canadian robot, Canadarm2.