International Space Station

Space Agency Heads Discuss Extending Space Station Lifespan to 2028

Today in Tokyo the leaders of the space agencies from Canada, Europe, Japan, Russia and the United States met to discuss the future of the International Space Station (ISS). The space station is nearing completion and the group noted there are no technical constraints to continue operations beyond 2015 to 2020 and possibly 2028. Extending the lifespan of the station to 2028 is a matter of certifying the on-orbit elements, something the ISS partners are currently doing.

MDA

ScanEx Starts to Sell RADARSAT-2 Satellite Data Products

ScanEx of Russia has finalized a distribution agreement with MDA Geospatial Services Inc. to be an official distributor of Canada's RADARSAT-2 satellite. The application of RADARSAT-2 images will expand the possibilities of radar satellite monitoring of natural and man-made objects and phenomena in Russia.

Mars

NASA ESMD Internal White Paper: Concept Proposal: Generation Mars

A campaign for Mars exploration with coordinated components of supporting technology development, human research, demonstrations on ISS, Mars robotic missions, human preparatory missions with enabling commercial and international collaboration...

NASA

NASA Hosts STS-129 Launch Tweetup 3 Comments

Space journalist Elizabeth Howell was among the 100 attendees at the first NASA launch tweetup at the Kennedy Space Center, Nov. 16, 2009.

With a golden flash, space shuttle Atlantis punched through the first cloud hanging between the pad and her destination in Earth orbit.

Astronomy

RASC Issues Green Laser Pointer Usage Information

The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada issued the following information for its members. Over the last decade the striking ethereal glow of Green Laser Pointers (GLPs) has become a familiar sight at astronomy education and public outreach (EPO) events, from star parties for beginners to sky-at-night tours around astronomical installations. With the beam of a GLP an astronomy educator can direct an audience unerringly to a specific object -- planet, meteor shower radiant, star, asterism, constellation, or nebula.

This Week in Space for Canada

This Week in Space for Canada

Last week in space for Canada was all about our federal government, it's changing policies and newly allocated funding as outlined in both the Wednesday throne speech and the Thursday budget. This week for space in Canada is about whether these changes will help or hinder Canadian space focused activities.

Policy

Developing a Solid Science Policy: Keynote Presentation at the Canadian Science Policy Conference

Here is the full transcript of the of keynote address, presented by the Minister of State (Science and Technology) Gary Goodyear to delegates at the inaugural Canadian Science Policy Conference being held October 28th - 30th in Toronto.

Human Space Flight Review Committee

Final US Human Spaceflight Plans Committee Report Released

The Review of U.S. Human Spaceflight Plans Committee has released it's long awaited report (PDF) and it states that the U.S. human spaceflight program appears to be on an unsustainable trajectory. However if NASA had a less-constrained budget with increasing annual expenditures by approximately $3 billion in real purchasing power they could sustain a viable exploration program.

Canadian Space Agency Watch

Canadian Space Agency Supports Prize Competitions

Earlier this fall John Chapman of White Rock, BC, a semi-retired mining expert who is also a strong proponent of commercializing space wrote to Canadian Space Agency (CSA) President Steve MacLean about the creation of prizes to accelerate space related technology. Last week he received a positive response.

European Space Agency

ESA and NASA establish a joint Mars exploration initiative

The outcome of the bilateral meeting was an agreement to create a Mars Exploration Joint Initiative (MEJI) that will provide a framework for the two agencies to define and implement their scientific, programmatic and technological goals at Mars.