SpaceQ Space news and analysis.
The Canadian Space Agency has awarded three of four contracts valued at $2.1 million (pre-tax) for their Development of enabling space technologies RFP.
The four priority technologies (PT) in the Development of enabling space technologies RFP are:
- PT-1 Technologies for Terrestrial Snow Mass Mission.
- PT-2 Pointing Mirror Technology for the Atmospheric Imaging Mission of Northern Regions (AIM-North).
- PT-3 Technology Development and Prototyping for Space-Based High-Performance, High-Density Signal Processing (LiteBIRD).
- PT-4 Miniaturized blackbody technology development for onboard calibration of fire diagnosis sensor (WildFireSat).
Our previous story on these priority technologies, CSA Issues Request for Proposals for Four STPD Priority Technologies Including for the LiteBIRD and WildFireSat Mission, contains the pertinent background information.
The three contract went to:
- MDA ($771,268): PT-1 Technologies for Terrestrial Snow Mass Mission
- ABB Canada (788,562): PT-2 Pointing Mirror Technology for the Atmospheric Imaging Mission of Northern Regions (AIM-North).
- ABB Canada ($862,312): PT-4 Miniaturized blackbody technology development for onboard calibration of fire diagnosis sensor (WildFireSat)
In December, McGill University was awarded a $500k phase 0 development contract for the proposed LiteBIRD telescope. That contract is meant to validate a variety of objectives, including the concept definition and design.
Update January 29, 2020: We had previously reported that PT-3: Technology Development and Prototyping for Space-Based High-Performance, High-Density Signal Processing (LiteBIRD) had not been awarded as the project has not progressed to the point that a contract can be awarded. Two weeks after the 3 three other contracts were awarded McGill University was awarded a contract for PT-3.
