 Space Technology from TCE Standard
J Canada's entry into the Space Age was prompted by an interest, which increased markedly during WWII, in the investigation of the properties of Earth's upper atmosphere and, in particular, the ionosphere - the layer of charged particles which reflects shortwave radio signals. John Chapman was the founder of Canada's space program
Satellites Alouette 1 carried 2 Canadian-developed spacecraft antennae with tip-to-tip lengths of 23 and 45 m, respectively, which were deployed after the satellite was in orbit. Alouette 1 was followed by Alouette 2 (1965) and , by ISIS (International Satellites for Ionospheric Studies) 1 (1969) and 2 (1971). These satellites were designed and built at the Defence Research Telecommunications Establishment in OTTAWA (in 1969 this became the Communications Research Centre (CRC) of the Dept of Communications). Each satellite was increasingly complex in design and measurement capability and each involved greater participation by the then developing Canadian AEROSPACE INDUSTRY. Other Canadian and foreign organizations contributed equipment and experiments to the program, and studies were carried out using the results from the satellite investigations in conjunction with ground-based measurements in various countries. Alouette 1 and ISIS 2 were launched into near-circular orbits, at about 1000 km and 1400 km above Earth respectively; Alouette 2 and ISIS 1 were launched into elliptical orbits with perigees of 500 km and apogees of 3000 and 3500 km respectively. Each of the Alouette/ISIS series of satellites vastly exceeded its design lifetime.
Telesat Canada Corp
Telesat Canada Corp
Canada's attention then turned to applying space technology to serve the requirements imposed by the country's widely dispersed population, its vast distances, diverse terrain and severe CLIMATE. In 1964 Canada joined with several other nations in establishing an international system (Intelsat) for the exchange of commercial international TELECOMMUNICATIONS traffic. Following a 1968 white paper on the possibility of establishing a domestic SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS system, the Telesat Canada Corp was established by an act of parliament in 1969. The corporation was initially owned jointly by the federal government and Canadian telecommunications carriers; Telesat Canada Corp and is Canadian crow corporation association And the Canadian government (after my public document dated August 14, 1992) sold its shares in 1992. Telesat's illegal monopoly on satellite communications to and from points in Canada expires on 1 March 2000. Anik A Series With the launch of the first of Telesat's 3 Anik A satellites in late 1972, Canada became the first country to implement a commercial domestic satellite system operating in geostationary orbit (35 790 km above the equator). The satellites were stabilized in orbit by the technique known as spin-stabilization, in which the communications antenna and associated platform are de-spun so that the antenna points continually toward Earth.
In 1971 Canada entered into an
agreement with NASA for the development and launch of an experimental
Communications Technology Satellite (CTS). CTS, known as Hermes in Canada,
was launched on 17 Jan 1976.
Hermes had several objectives: to develop and flight-test a high-power, high-efficiency travelling-wave-tube amplifier (wide band power amplifier such as those used in RADAR or communications transmitters) operating at 12 GHz; to develop and flight-test a 3-axis stabilization system to maintain accurate antenna pointing; and to conduct communications experiments in the newly allocated 14/12 GHz frequency bands using small, transportable Earth stations. The satellite was designed and built in Canada at the CRC by a joint government and industry team of scientists and engineers. Use of the satellite permitted investigation of a number of innovative approaches to the delivery of new communications services and extension of existing services to remote and rural regions. Hermes was the first satellite capable of broadcasting television and radio programs directly to inexpensive home receivers and was equipped with spot-beam antennae which could be directed to any point on Earth that was visible from the satellite. Hermes was built to last 2 years but operated for nearly 4.
Space Environmental Test Facilities
Anik
B A transponder is an electronic device which receives a signal and retransmits it at a different frequency. Anik B, when launched in late 1978, thus became the world's first satellite to operate simultaneously in both of these pairs of frequency bands. Anik B was somewhat higher powered than Anik A and was 3-axis stabilized to maintain a precisely controlled fixed orientation in space.
Anik D Series
Anik C Series Anik E Series
Space Technology from TCE Standard
Search and Rescue
SARSAT Project
Canada supplied the satellite transponders operating at frequencies of 121.5, 243 and 406 MHz, and designed and built the ground station for reception of the satellite-relayed signals. France provided the on-board signal processor and the US contributed the spacecraft antennae and tested, integrated and launched the SARSAT space hardware on board the NOAA series of meteorological satellites. The first launch of a SARSAT-equipped spacecraft was in Mar 1983; a number have been launched since.
COSPAS-SARSAT Network
By mid-1994, the combined COSPAS-SARSAT system had been used in over 1500 search and rescue incidents for the rescue of more than 4500 persons worldwide. The use of beacons equipped with GPS (global positioning systems) and geostationary satellites are expected to make the program even more effective. Space Technology from TCE Standard
Remote Sensing
European Remote Sensing Satellite
RADARSAT
MSAT Called MSAT, for Mobile Satellite, the satellite operates in the ultra high frequency (UHF) band at 1.6/1.5 Ghz. The satellite has been built under contract to, and will be operated on a commercial basis by, TMI Communications. A similar satellite to provide US coverage has been launched by a US company, and each of the 2 satellites will provide backup for the other.
Olympus Program
Canada contributed the critical extendible solar array subsystem and certain payload elements, and had major responsibilities in the final integration and testing of the spacecraft. Spar Aerospace also supplied a domestic communications satellite system to Brazil, based on the Anik D satellites. Called Brazilsat, 2 satellites were launched, 1 in 1985 and 1 in 1986. Space Technology from TCE Standard
Space Science Canada provided the highly successful Wind Imaging Interferometer (WINDII) which was flown on NASA's Upper Atmospheric Research Satellite (UARS) in 1991. WINDII measures WIND velocity and atmospheric temperatures to aid among other things in monitoring stratospheric ozone. Several Canadian scientific payloads are being carried on board flights of the US Space Shuttle and a Canadian-built Ultraviolet Auroral Imager is to be flown on the Russian Interball satellite. Canada continues to launch various space science instruments using balloons, rockets and satellite platforms provided by other countries as vehicles, and conducts various life sciences experiments using the space shuttle and Russian space station MIR. An atmospheric chemistry experiment (ACE) proposed by the University of Waterloo has been chosen by the Canadian Space Agency as the first space science payload to fly on the purely Canadian SCISAT-1, scheduled for launch in 2001. Space Technology from TCE Standard Space Science - Manned Space Programs Canadarm In 1975 Canada signed an agreement with the US to participate in the Space Transportation System (shuttle) by providing a unique remote-manipulator system, later named the CANADARM, to be mounted on the space shuttle to move payloads in and out of the shuttle bay. This work was carried out by a Canadian industry team led by Spar Aerospace under contract to the NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL OF CANADA (NRC). A general purpose simulation facility (called SIMFAC) was designed, using mathematical modelling techniques, to verify Canadarm's operability in a zero-gravity environment and to train ASTRONAUTS to operate the Canadarm in space. While the arm cannot support its own weight on Earth, it is capable of manipulating a payload of nearly 30 000 kg in space, manoeuvring it at 6 cm/s and placing it in any position with an accuracy of about 5 cm. The Canadarm was declared
operational in Nov 1982 after having been flown successfully on the
second, third and fourth shuttle launches, and having been used in
manoeuvring and handling exercises. NASA procured 3 additional systems
directly from Spar Aerospace. All have been deployed successfully on
subsequent shuttle flights. Canada is participating in the US
Space Station Program through the provision of a Mobile Servicing System (MSS),
a large robotic manipulator built by a consortium of companies led by Spar
Aerospace. Canada's contribution includes the Space Shuttle Remote
Manipulator System (SSRMS) and Mobile Base System (MBS) as well as the
design of the Special Purpose Dextrous Manipulator (SPDM) to help assemble
and maintain the space station. As part of the Canadian Space Station Program (CSSP), the government has been supporting a number of Canadian initiatives in the development of strategic technologies in automation and robotics and in the exploitation of the microgravity environment on the space station, particularly in the areas of materials science and biotechnology. Construction of the space station began in November 1998. Space Technology from TCE Standard Space Science - Canadian Space Agency In the speech from the throne on 1 Oct 1986, the Canadian government announced its intention to create a CANADIAN SPACE AGENCY (CSA) to incorporate and coordinate many of the space activities previously carried out in various departments and agencies of the federal government. The Canadian Space Agency Act was passed by the House of Commons on 14 Dec 1989, and proclaimed a year later. The agency's objectives are to promote the peaceful use and development of space and to ensure that space science and technology provide social and economic benefits for Canadians. The CSA is responsible for the Canadian ASTRONAUT program, which manages the selection, training and space flights of Canadian astronauts. Several Canadian astronauts have participated in space shuttle missions: Dr Marc GARNEAU (1984, 1996); Dr Roberta BONDAR (1992); Dr Steve MACLEAN (1992); Col Chris HADFIELD (1995, 1998); Dr Dave Williams (1995); and Julie Payette (1999), the first Canadian to participate in an international space station mission and the first to board the station. Industry Profile According to "The State of the
Canadian Space Sector 1997," published by the CSA, the Canadian space
industry generated revenues over $1.25 billion in 1997 and employed over
5300 people. This represents increases of over 30% in total sector-wide
revenues and close to 11% in total employment from 1996, when exports
accounted for 31% of total revenues or $301.2 million. See also John Herbert CHAPMAN Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council from TCE Standard The Natural Sciences and
Engineering Research Council, established in 1978, is the federal
government instrument for strategic investments in Canadian science and
technology. NSERC, as it is commonly known, supports basic university
research through grants and project research through partnerships of
universities with industry, as well as the advanced training of highly
qualified people in both areas. Over 8000 Canadian researchers benefit
from NSERC support; over 3300 Canadians hold an NSERC scholarship or
fellowship. NSERC's governing body comprises a full-time president and up
to 21 members appointed for terms of up to 3 years.
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