December 2009 Archives

SpaceRef will be updating only on a limited basis until next Monday at which time we will resume our normal schedule until New Year's Eve. From New Year's Eve until Monday, January 5th we will once again only be publishing on a limited basis.

We wish everyone the best during this holiday season and please do be careful during your travels!

Happy Holiday's

The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) today issued a Request for Information (RFI) to Canadian organizations involved in space technology development and/or research in Canada to provide comments on technical information stemming from the European Space Agency's (ESA) 1st Semester 2010 Technology Harmonization process led by ESA's Technology Harmonization Advisory Group (THAG), where the CSA represents the Canadian delegation.

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.

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.

It's been over fifty years since Sputnik ushered in the dawn of the space age and it looks like we all sometimes get it wrong when it comes to predicting the future so this week in space for Canada is all about being cautious about those predictions we're likely to be making over the next week or so.

The National Space Agency of Ukraine (NSAU) has awarded MDA a contract to build them a communication satellite system including a geostationary communications satellite, two satellite control centres and related ground infrastructure. The deal is worth $254 million dollar (US).

As the holiday season slowly sneaks up on us and others begin to climb cautiously aboard our Canadian space prediction bandwagon (most notably this week, Peter Rakobowchuk in his recent article "Canada's space program made history in 2009, but 2010 could be an even bigger year"), this week in space for Canada is all about looking back at what we've done as a space faring nation over the last few decades in order to learn lessons applicable for our future activities.

The steadily increasing cost of micro satellite launch services has reached the point that the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) is seriously considering the development of an indigenous launch system. In late November they issued a request for proposals (RFP) for a strategic analysis of the market.

This week in space for Canada is all about collecting useful pieces of information in order to discern developing patterns coalescing around the Canadian space industry. To that end, we'll be using disjointed reports from unusual sources, incomplete information from established news outlets and passing comments from experts both acknowledged and otherwise.

Leave it to Sir Richard Branson to put on a show. A lavish unveiling was scheduled for SpaceShipTwo now known as Virgin Mothership (VMS) Eve carrying Virgin Space Ship (VSS) Enterprise. Unfortunately mother nature was not being co-operative with strong winds and a frigid night with even the possibility of snow. Leaving the theatrics behind after a roll-out of the VMS Eve carrying VSS Enterprise everyone, including some 800 strong media, celebs, customers and the like headed indoors for speeches and to mingle.

The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) aims to troubadour through venues across the country, spreading information about what it is like to live on the International Space Station, courtesy of a $1.25-million solicitation it awarded to Expographiq (aka Crecan International Ltd.) in late November for an exhibit called "Living in Space".

This week in space for Canada is all about celebrating the final return of the last Canadian scheduled to go into space for at least the next five years, contemplating what the future might hold and maybe, just maybe making plans to help mold that future into something useful.