Canadian Space Agency facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Canadian Space Agency

Agence spatiale canadienne  (French)
CSA coat of arms
CSA logo
Agency overview
Formed	March 1, 1989; 36 years ago (1989-03-01)
Jurisdiction	Government of Canada
Headquarters	John H. Chapman Space Centre, Longueuil, Quebec 45°31′21″N 73°23′45″W / 45.52239°N 73.39582°W / 45.52239; -73.39582
Employees	948
Annual budget	CA$615.4 million (2023)
Minister responsible	François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science, and Industry
Agency executives	Lisa Campbell, President John Moores, Science Advisor

The Canadian Space Agency (CSA; French: Agence spatiale canadienne, ASC) is Canada's national space agency. It was created in 1990 to help Canada explore space.

The current president of the CSA is Lisa Campbell. She started this job on September 3, 2020. The agency reports to the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry. The main office of the CSA is in Longueuil, Quebec, at the John H. Chapman Space Centre. They also have offices in Ottawa, Ontario, and small offices in other countries like the United States and France.

History of Canada's Space Journey

Canada's journey into space started after World War II. Between 1945 and 1960, Canada worked on small rockets and satellites. They even developed the Black Brant rocket.

Canada's First Satellite: Alouette 1

In 1957, Canadian scientists began a project called S-27. This led to the creation of Canada's first satellite, Alouette 1. When Alouette 1 was launched in September 1962, Canada became the third country to send a satellite into space. At that time, Canada could only launch rockets into the upper atmosphere. So, NASA helped launch Alouette 1 from California.

Alouette 1 worked for ten years, much longer than expected! This success led to more studies of the ionosphere (a part of Earth's atmosphere). Canada and the U.S. worked together on the ISIS satellite program. In 1972, Canada launched Anik A-1. This made Canada the first country to have its own network of geostationary communication satellites.

Why the CSA Was Created

All these space activities in the 1980s showed Canada needed a dedicated space agency. So, the Canadian government created the Canadian Space Agency. The law to create it was passed on May 10, 1990. The agency officially started on December 14, 1990.

The CSA's main goal is to use space peacefully and to learn more about it through science. They also want to make sure space science and technology help Canadians in their daily lives. The CSA wants to lead in space knowledge for everyone's benefit.

Leaders of the Canadian Space Agency

Here are the people who have led the Canadian Space Agency:

• 1989 – 1992: Larkin Kerwin
• 1992 – 1994: Roland Doré
• 1994 – 2001: William MacDonald Evans
• 2001 – 2005: Marc Garneau
• 2007 – 2007: Larry J. Boisvert
• 2008 – 2008: Guy Bujold
• 2008 – 2013: Steven MacLean
• 2013 – 2013: Gilles Leclerc (interim)
• 2013 – 2014: Walter Natynczyk
• 2014 – 2015: Luc Brûlé, Interim
• 2015 – 2020: Sylvain Laporte
• 2020 – present: Lisa Campbell

Working with Other Space Agencies

The CSA works closely with the European Space Agency (ESA). They have been partners since the 1970s. Canada also works with other space agencies like NASA, ISRO (India), JAXA (Japan), and SNSA (Sweden).

Canada's partnership with Europe in space started even before the ESA and CSA existed. Since 1979, Canada has had a special "Cooperating State" status with the ESA. This means Canada pays a fee and invests in projects. Canadian companies can also get contracts to work on ESA programs. This special status is unique and helps Canada be a part of many European space missions.

Canada's Space Program: What We Do

Canadarm (right) during Space Shuttle mission STS-72

The Mobile Base System just before Canadarm2 installed it on the Mobile Transporter during STS-111

The Canadian Space Agency manages Canada's space program. Canada has given a lot of technology, knowledge, and people to space exploration. This is especially true in its work with ESA and NASA. Besides our amazing astronauts and satellites, Canada is famous for the Canadarm on the Space Shuttle and Canadarm2 on the International Space Station.

Canada's main contribution to the International Space Station is the Mobile Servicing System. This system is worth $1.3 billion. It includes:

• Canadarm2 (a robotic arm)
• Dextre (a smaller, two-armed robot)
• The Mobile Base System (MBS)
• Many robotics workstations

These parts work together to help build and maintain the ISS. The Canadarm, Canadarm2, and Dextre use a special vision system. This system helps the robotic arms work more effectively. Another important Canadian technology is the Orbiter Boom Sensor System. This was an extension for the original Canadarm. It helped check the Space Shuttle's heat shield for damage in space. Now, it's used with Canadarm2 on the ISS.

Canadian Astronauts: Our Space Explorers

Canada has held four campaigns to find astronauts for the CSA.

• The first group, chosen in 1983, included Roberta Bondar, Marc Garneau, Robert Thirsk, Ken Money, Bjarni Tryggvason, and Steve MacLean.
• In 1992, Chris Hadfield, Julie Payette, Dafydd Williams, and Michael McKay were selected.
• In 2009, Jeremy Hansen and David Saint-Jacques joined the team.
• The most recent campaign in 2016 chose Joshua Kutryk and Jennifer Sidey from 3,772 applicants.

Nine Canadians have flown on 17 space missions. Most of these were on NASA Space Shuttles. Three missions were on Russian Soyuz spacecraft. Two Canadian astronauts, Michael McKay and Ken Money, never flew in space.

In 2015, the Canadian government promised to keep supporting the International Space Station. This secured more flights for Canada's active astronauts. In 2016, the CSA announced that David Saint-Jacques would fly to the ISS in 2018 for six months. A Canadian astronaut will also be part of the Artemis 2 mission. This will be the first Canadian to travel beyond low Earth orbit (Earth's close-by space).

Canadian Satellites: Eyes in the Sky

Alouette 1 was the first satellite built by a country other than the United States or Soviet Union.

Canada has launched many satellites for different purposes. Here are some of them:

Companies like Telesat also launch satellites. These include the Anik and Nimiq satellites, used for TV and communications. Canadian universities and companies also develop smaller research satellites.

International Space Projects

The CSA helps with many international space projects. These include satellites, rovers, and space telescopes. Canada has provided parts for projects by the ESA, NASA, ISRO, and JAXA. For example, Canada contributed the Fine Guidance Sensor to NASA's James Webb Space Telescope.

CSA Facilities

The Canadian Space Agency has several important locations:

• John H. Chapman Space Centre in Longueuil, Quebec (headquarters)
• David Florida Laboratory in Ottawa, Ontario (for testing spacecraft)
• Canadian Space Agency Building in Innovation Place Research Park in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Canada does not have its own large rocket launch sites. So, it uses facilities in other countries:

• Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, USA
• Kennedy Space Center, Florida, USA
• Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, USA
• Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia, USA
• Satish Dhawan Space Centre, India
• Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
• Dombarovsky Air Base, Russia
• Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russia

Future Space Programs

Canada is planning exciting new space missions. In 2008, the CSA started designing the RADARSAT Constellation mission. This involves three satellites that observe Earth. These satellites were launched on June 12, 2019. The agency also received money to design robotic rovers for the Moon and Mars.

Lunar Gateway and Canadarm3

On February 28, 2019, Canada joined the Lunar Gateway project. This is a NASA-led project to build a small space station orbiting the Moon. Canada is the first international partner in this project. Canada has promised to spend $2.05 billion over 24 years to develop the next generation of the Canadarm, called Canadarm3. This is Canada's biggest financial commitment to a single space project ever.

Lunar Rover Mission

As part of the Artemis program, the CSA is building a small lunar rover. This robot will explore a polar region of the Moon. It will be able to survive the cold lunar night. The mission will carry at least two science tools, one from NASA and one from the CSA. It is planned to launch by 2026.

Rockets and Launch Sites

A Canadian Black Brant XII launching from Wallops Flight Facility

The Canadian Space Agency does not have its own large rockets to launch spacecraft into orbit. Canada relies on other countries like the U.S., India, and Russia for launches. However, Canada is looking into building its own small rocket launcher.

The CSA has looked at locations in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, and the Churchill Rocket Research Range in Manitoba. These could be sites for launching small satellites (150 kg). This would help Canada rely less on other countries for launches. Building a small satellite launcher could take 10 to 12 years.

A new launch site is being built in Canso, Nova Scotia. This site is for commercial launches by a company called Maritime Launch Services. It is expected to be ready in 2024–2025.

See also

• List of government space agencies
• Science and technology in Canada
• Timeline of space travel by nationality