SpaceRef Canada

Canadian Space Agency

Veteran Astronaut Chris Hadfield Selected as Space Station Expedition 35 Commander 0

The Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology) announced today at the Canadian Space Agency headquarters that veteran astronaut Chris Hadfield will be Canada's first Commander of the International Space Station and only the second Canadian astronaut to participate in a six month long duration mission aboard the International Space Station. Robert Thirsk was the first Canadian to spend six month on the International Space Station.

Continue reading Veteran Astronaut Chris Hadfield Selected as Space Station Expedition 35 Commander.

This Week in Space for Canada

This Week in Space for Canada 0

Our Prime Minister again endorses RadarSat Constellation, then reminds us that he increased Canadian Space Agency (CSA) funding in March 2010 so funding delays are now "a thing of the past," just so long as nobody needs any cash until next year, which may or may not be good news for Com Dev International which warned investors on August 26th of continued cost-growth problems with US and Canadian government satellite contracts. Meanwhile, a posse of politicians make an "important" announcement regarding "a future space mission for a Canadian astronaut" that most of the rest of us likely already know about. All that and more, this week in space for Canada.

Canadian Space Agency

Canadian Space Agency to Announce Milestone Astronaut Mission Tomorrow 0

The Canadian Space Agency announced this morning that they will hold a press conference tomorrow to announce an important mission for one of Canada's astronauts. It is expected that the Canadian Space Agency will announce that veteran Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield will be introduced as the first Canadian Commander of an expedition to the International Space Station.

Dextre

Meet Canada's Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator or Dextre for Short 0

Radarsat Constellation

The CSA Issues RADARSAT Next Generation Options Study for the Department of Defence 0

This Week in Space for Canada

This Week in Space for Canada 61 Comments

This Week in Space for Canada

This Week in Space for Canada 0

This Week in Space for Canada

This Week in Space for Canada 0

This Week in Space for Canada

This Week in Space for Canada 0

MATMOS

Canadian Space Agency to Contribute to 2016 ExoMars Mission 0

Veteran Astronaut Chris Hadfield Selected as Space Station Expedition 35 Commander

Commercial Space

MDA Gets Next Contract in RADARSAT Constellation Mission

MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (MDA) announced yesterday that the Canadian Space Agency has authorized MDA to start the design phase (C) of the RADARSAT Constellation Mission. The value of this contract is limited to $11.8 million and is expected to be completed by June 11, 2010. The announcement comes two weeks after the federal government unveiled it's budget which included funding for the RADARSAT Constellation.

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...

Astronomy

The Future Direction of Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (Podcast)

The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC) recently held its annual general assembly in Fredericton between July 1-4. One key event at the general assembly was an open forum and panel discussion titled "Boldly Navigating Where no one has Gone Before: The Future of the RASC in the 21st Century. The panel discussion was recorded for the Starizona's Let's Talk Stars radio programme hosted by David & Wendee Levy.

NASA

Obama Visits Kennedy Space Center to Push NASA Vision - The Cape Insider 8 Comments

Air Force One touched down at 1:24 p.m. (EDT) today at NASA's Kennedy Space Center (KSC) carrying President Barack Obama and dignitaries for a short visit to explain and push his vision of NASA's transformation. At the same time he came to reassure KSC workers that there would be some jobs and retraining money available. After a brief visit around KSC including a guided tour by SpaceX founder Elon Musk of his private company's facilities and launch pad where the Falcon 9 awaits its maiden voyage next month, the President then traveled to the Operations and Checkout building to speak to the highly vetted audience.

This Week in Space for Canada

Policy

White House Releases National Space Policy - Canada has a Quiet Space Policy

In a surprise move the White House yesterday released a National Space Policy giving reporters scant notice and leaving many to wonder how serious the Obama administration is with respect to U.S. space activities. The policy which focuses on stronger international cooperation comes at a time when the White House is an a protracted battle with congress over the future of NASA's Constellation space exploration program with thousands of jobs lost and many more at stake.

Commercial Space

Commercial Space - A Growing Industry in Canada

In the budget released by the government last week was $397 million of new funding for the RADARSAT Constellation Mission. In addition, the Canadian Space Agency had already allocated $100 million for the Constellation. The green light to this project is an important step in maintaining highly skilled jobs and keeping Canada a leader in the Earth Observation field which will benefit the growing Canadian commercial space sector.

Canadian Space Agency Watch

Old News Revisited - SpaceX to Launch CASSIOPE 1 Comment

Anyone reading the widely circulated Canadian Press (CP) story last week titled "Canadian Space Agency becomes third customer of commercial U.S. rocket firm" can be forgiven if thinking this was new news. In fact it wasn't. The Canadian Space Agency through it's contractor MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (MDA) had secured a launch for the CASSIOPE satellite almost 5 years ago.

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.