Canada in SpaceCanada in Space

18391839

• The first magnetic observatory is set up by Sir Edward Sabine at the University of Toronto to study the Northern Lights

1953 - Canada’s Avro Arrow Program

• Avro Arrow supersonic, missile armed inceptor aircraft.

• Designed to intercept delivery of nuclear weapons by Soviet Union following WWII

• Political issues – change from Liberals to Conservatives (money issues)

• Program was cancelled, prototype destroyed

19591959

• CF-105 Avro Arrow jet programme is cancelled

• Many of Canada’s best aerospace engineers find work with NASA where they make contributions to Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo programs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlrfGx4ncgI

19591959

• Black Brant 1, the first Canadian sounding (research) rocket is launched from Fort Churchill, Manitoba

• This rocket does not orbit the Earth, but is sub-orbital

•Original use was for research, communication, and anti-ballistic missile detection

• The Aurora borealis (Northern Lights) interferes with telecommunications of this rocket

• Sounding rockets are still used by CSA and NASA in sub-orbital missions

1962

• Canada was the 3rd country in space!!!!

• Satellite Alouette1 launched on Sept. 29, 1962

• Launched by NASA from the Pacific Missile Range from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California

• Used to study the ionosphere (upper atmosphere)

• Alouette’s mission lasted for 10 years before it was turned off

19691969

• Canadian Owen Maynard involved in the development of the Lunar module Eagle (used in NASA Apollo missions).– Designed the landing gear necessary for the

first walk on the moon

19721972

• Telesat Canada (satellite communications company) launches Anik A1

• World’s first national satellite television system

• CBC could now reach the Canadian North

• Geostationary satellite located at Equator

Geostationary orbits are useful because they cause a satellite to appear stationary with respect to a fixed point on the rotating Earth.

As a result, an antenna can point in a fixed direction and maintain a link with the satellite.

19811981

• Miss Butler was born 7 days prior to its launch (Nov 13)…

• Canadarm (Shuttle Remote Manipulator System) launched aboard Space Shuttle Columbia mission STS-2

• Canada's most famous robotic and technological achievement.

• The design and building of it marks the beginning of Canada's close collaboration with NASA in manned space flight.

• Canadarm’s excellent performance record has inspired several generations of scientists and engineers as they develop new technologies for industry, medicine, and other applications.

• Used for capturing and repairing satellites and moving cargo and astronauts in space

19841984

• October 5, 1984: Marc Garneau becomes the first Canadian in space aboard Challenger Mission STS-41G

• He conducted 10 experiments in 3 main categories: space technology, space science and life sciences

• He returned to space in 1996 and 2000 before becoming president of CSA

• In 2000 he installs the Space Station’s solar arrays (power for the station)

1989

• The Canadian Space Agency is created

• Mandate:

“To promote the peaceful use and development of space, to advance the knowledge of space through science and to ensure that space science and technology provide social and economic benefits for Canadians”

HAS THAT HAPPENED???

19921992

• Roberta Bondar becomes the first Canadian woman in space aboard Discovery mission STS-42

• One of 6 original astronauts selected in December 1983

• Performed life science and material science experiments

• Is a neurologist and researcher

19951995

• Chris Hadfield becomes the first Canadian to operate the Canadarm and only Canadian to board MIR (Russian Space Station)

19951995

• First complete view of Canada compiled using RADARSAT-1

• RADARSAT-1 is Canada’s first Earth observation satellite

• Launched Nov. 4, 1995

• Developed by Canada to monitor environmental changes and natural resources

• Able to acquire images of Earth day and night and in all weather

19961996

• Robert Thirsk flies aboard the longest shuttle mission to date

19971997

• Bjarni Tryggvason flies aboard Discovery mission STS-85

• Tests Microgravity Vibration Isolation Mount (Canadian built – improves the microgravity environment for experiments/experimenters in space)

• Experience has shown that spacecraft, such as the Russian Mir space station and the US Space Shuttle, do not provide the high-quality microgravity environment required for many science experiments. There are numerous causes for this deviation from the ideal "free-fall" environment such as the operation of on-board equipment (pumps, fans, thrusters, etc.), the movement of astronauts within the spacecraft, and variations in orbital characteristics such as atmospheric drag. While these disturbances are usually small and are most often not even felt by the astronauts, they can nonetheless have undesirable effects on space-based experiments. This is particularly significant for a large class of materials science experiments that involve fluid or vapour phases.

• The Microgravity Isolation Mount (MIM) is a unique Canadian development that improves the microgravity environment for experimenters who use spacecraft such as Mir or the Space Shuttle. The MIM uses the principle of magnetic levitation to isolate experiments from the vibrations of the spacecraft. The MIM consists of three major components: a stator fixed to the spacecraft, a flotor which floats without contact relative to the fixed stator and a control unit which houses the brains of the system. Experiments are mounted on the MIM flotor and are controlled by the MIM control unit.

• First MIM was sent to MIR

19981998

• Dave Williams becomes the first non-American to serve as medical officer on a Shuttle Flight

19991999

• Julie Payette is the first Canadian to board the International Space Station

20012001

• Chris Hadfield is the first Canadian to walk in space

• Canadarm 2 was installed during this mission

20032003

• The Microvariability and Oscillations of Stars telescope (MOST) is launched

• Canada’s first space telescope and the World’s smallest

• Like an interstellar

IPod (uses sounds

to locate stars)

20032003

• Canada’s Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment aboard the Scientific Satellite SCISAT is launched

• SCISAT studies the depletion of the Ozone layer over Canada and the arctic

2009

• July 15 – Julie Payette and Robert Thirsk are part of the

largest gathering of humans in space (13) from USA, Russia, Japan, Canada, and Belgium

• September 30– Guy Laliberté (poker player/entrepreneur) is

the first Canadian space tourist– Spent 12 days in space– Cost: $20-35 million dollars (US)

• First Poetic Social Mission in space aimed at touching people through an artistic approach: a special 120-minute webcast program featuring various artistic performances unfolding in 14 cities on five continents, including the International Space Station