Recently in This Week in Space for Canada Category

Space tourist Guy Laliberté publishes his orbital scrapbook, Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronauts step up their efforts to remind us that they "still have a bright future," although maybe not as government astronauts and the new federal minister of industry (who's also responsible for the CSA) has a background in agriculture and natural resources management, which should give him a understanding of the growing space based geomatics industry. All that and more, this week in space for Canada.

MacDonald Dettwiler (MDA) promises to either buy a space company with US roots or else return to shareholders the $793 million CDN acquired from the January sale of it's property-information business. Maybe they should talk with executives at Telesat, who declined again to discuss efforts to sell their company during the quarterly Telesat conference call on Thursday. Meanwhile, back in academia, researchers at the University of Guelph rediscover an old Russian secret to dealing with human waste in space. All that, with nothing thrown out the airlock, this week in space for Canada.

The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) remembers it's past and ponders it's future, COM DEV International subsidiary exactEarth Ltd. successfully launches its automatic identification system (AIS) payload from India and campaigning ex-astronaut and current politician Marc Garneau discusses innovation, entrepreneurship and public policy this Wednesday. All that and more, this week in space for Canada.

In space, no one can hear your electioneering, which could mean curtains for Canada's never released and long buried, long term space plan. Plus, a Canadarm actually retires to Canada, although we're not quite sure just where yet (after all, my Canada always included Florida, especially in the winter) and the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) just keeps needing more money, more money and more money. All that and even more, this week in space for Canada.

It looks like there will be snowmobiles on the Moon (or at least designs for them) as MacDonald Dettwiler (MDA) subcontracts out a portion of it's Canadian Space Agency (CSA) rover contract to Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP). Bob Richards also leaps for the Moon (again, but with a different company) and satellite operator Telesat sits at the top of Ottawa business revenue generators where it will likely stay, until it's sold. All that and more, this week in space for Canada.

As MacDonald Dettwiler (MDA) commences the downsizing of the Brampton based robotics group responsible for the iconic Canadarms, a small group of Canadian Space Agency (CSA) subcontractors and space focused businesses contemplate the "Next Breakthrough Space Technology for Canada." Meanwhile, Com Dev International subsidiary exactEarth Ltd., wins a contract with the Canadian government and the cost for the James Webb Space Telescope just keeps growing and growing. All that and more, this week in space for Canada.

The US National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency exercises an option for more data from RADARSAT II and COM DEV International hires the very experienced ex-president of Rogers Telecom and Spar Space Systems to sit on the HR and compensation committees. Meanwhile, back in the ivory tower, the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) posts two new funding opportunities for Canadian universities looking to participate in the Mars Science Laboratory. All that and more, this week in space for Canada.

The state of the Canadian space sector is seemingly good, with both jobs and revenue up plus Canadian based Neptec Design receiving the prestigious George M. Low Award from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). But the state of our long term American partners is bad and many of the "commercial space" changes proposed by the Obama administration could potentially be rolled back in an effort to save money and preserve US jobs. All that and a shameless plug for the Canadian Space Commerce Association (CSCA) conference and AGM, this week in space for Canada.

The CBC "mothercorp" reports (incorrectly) that "NASA has a long-term obligation with other partners to provide (the CSA) with transportation to the ISS" and others wonder what ever happened to the Canadian Space Agency's (CSA) annual report on the "State of the Canadian Space Sector" which was due for release in December 2010? All that plus the 2011 Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute (CASI) Presidents Tour, this week in space for Canada.

Mississauga-based Microsat Systems Canada (MSCI) announces it's building a massive (perhaps too good to be true) constellation of 78 small, relatively low-flying satellites designed to relieve network smart phone congestion. Macdonald Dettwiler (MDA) will be "exercising an option" for additional work on the Orbital Sciences Corporation (Orbital) developed Cygnus cargo spacecraft and even ComDev International gets a new military contract from the US government. All that and more, this week in space for Canada.