Five Canadian CubeSat Project Satellites Set for Launch Saturday

Three 2U CubeSat's part of the Canadian CubeSat Project are deployed from the International Space Station. Credit: Nanoracks.

Five Canadian CubeSat Project Satellites and the Canadian Space Agency CARDIOBREATH research experiment are scheduled for launch Saturday, June 3, 2023 at 12:35 p.m. ET.

The launch on a SpaceX cargo spacecraft is a commercial resupply mission to the International Space Station and is designated as CRS-28. The launch will take place from the Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39 in Florida. You can watch the launch on NASA TV right here on SpaceQ.

To date the Canadian Space Agency has had six of the 15 selected Canadian CubeSat Project satellites launched. Once onboard the International Space Station, an astronaut will prepare the CubeSat’s for the Nanoracks CubeSat Deployer. No date has been provided yet as to when they will deploy from the station.

For this launch the following satellites are being launched:

SC-ODIN from Concordia University

Themes: Earth observation, climate change, space technology

  • Capture imaging data of dust plumes over Lake Colhué Huapi in Argentina and Namibian coastal regions to extract aerosol optical depth (AOD) measurements.
  • Monitor doses of radiation received over time inside and outside the CubeSat to understand the low Earth orbit radiation environment and its effect on components.

Academic collaborators

  • Université de Montréal (QC)
  • L’Institut polytechnique de Grenoble (France)

Industry collaborator

  • MDA (QC)

Governmental/NGO collaborators

  • Let’s Talk Science (QC & ON)

Iris from the University of Manitoba

Themes: Astronomy, geology

  • Study how space conditions affect the composition of asteroids and the Moon so that researchers on Earth can better understand those effects when studying their cousins, meteorites. This mission will also help better understand the origins of asteroids when we combine this data with the data from asteroid sample-return missions, such as the OSIRIS-REx mission.

Academic collaborators

  • University of Winnipeg (MB)
  • York University (ON)
  • Interlake School Division (MB)

Industry collaborator

  • Magellan Aerospace (MB)

RADSAT-SK from the University of Saskatchewan

Theme: Space technology

  • Test a FET-based radiation dosimeter and a melanin-based method of radiation protection, both being developed at the University of Saskatchewan. This new radiation dosimeter shows promise in reducing cost, size, weight, and manufacturing complexity when compared to current dosimeter standards. Melanin-based radiation protection could have significant effects on the methods currently used to protect against radiation in space, as it is significantly lighter and easier to work with than current standards, also resulting in reduced transportation costs. The efficacy of these two new technologies will be tested and compared to current standards.

Academic collaborators

  • Saskatchewan Polytechnic (SK)

Industry collaborators

  • Calian Advanced Technologies (SK)
  • Innocorps Research Corporation (SK)
  • Galaxia Mission Systems Inc. (NS)

ESSENCE from York University

Themes: Earth observation, climate change, environment, radiation

  • Test a Canadian-developed wide-angle camera to observe snow and ice coverage in Northern Canada. The information collected through its images could help map the thawing of Arctic ice and permafrost and give a better picture of the impacts of climate change in the region.
  • Test a solar energetic proton detector, provided by the University of Sydney, to collect data that will enable a better understanding of the effect of Solar Proton Events (SPEs). SPEs are the result of solar activity during which radioactive protons emitted by the Sun become highly energized. The level of radioactivity caused by such events can penetrate and cause damage to the structure and electronic components of spacecraft in their paths. Understanding these events and their effects could help improve the design of CubeSats so they are more resistant to radiation.

Academic collaborators

  • ICT Seneca College of Applied Arts and Technology (ON)
  • University of Sydney (Australia)

Industry collaborator

  • Canadensys Aerospace (ON)

Governmental/NGO collaborator

  • Defence Research and Development Canada (ON)

Ukpik-1 from Western University

Themes: Space exploration, Earth observation, climate change, environment, educational outreach

  • Conduct a flight test with a novel imaging system for engineering technology demonstration with the potential to provide virtual reality-ready images. This imaging system has future applications in Earth observation and space exploration. Testing will demonstrate imaging modes for different in-orbit functions.
  • Enhance science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) outreach of Western University’s Centre for Planetary Science and Exploration (CPSX) by taking CubeSat operations into the classroom. This will include students from southwestern Ontario schools and Nunavut Arctic College. Remote access to the CubeSat will facilitate live demonstrations of how to send commands and how to interpret data received. These activities will complement the existing classroom activities and build upon previous work developed at Western in enabling remote access to laboratory equipment.

Industry collaborators

  • Canadensys Aerospace (ON)
  • MDA (ON)

About Marc Boucher

Boucher is an entrepreneur, writer, editor & publisher. He is the founder of SpaceQ Media Inc. and CEO and co-founder of SpaceRef Interactive LLC. Boucher has 20+ years working in various roles in the space industry and a total of 30 years as a technology entrepreneur including creating Maple Square, Canada's first internet directory and search engine.

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