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	Mélanie Joly, Minister of Innovation, Science, and Industry
Agency executives	Lisa Campbell, President John Moores, Science Advisor

The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) is Canada's national space agency. It was created in 1990 by the Canadian Space Agency Act.

The current president is Lisa Campbell. She started this job on September 3, 2020. The agency reports to the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry.

The CSA's main office is at the John H. Chapman Space Centre in Longueuil, Quebec. They also have offices in Ottawa, Ontario. Plus, there are small offices in Houston, Washington, and Paris to work with other countries.

History of Canada in Space

Canada's journey into space began after World War II. From 1945 to 1960, Canada worked on small rockets and satellites. They developed the Black Brant rocket. Scientists also studied how to meet up in orbit and re-enter Earth's atmosphere.

In 1957, Canadian scientists started a project called S-27. This project led to Canada's first satellite, Alouette 1.

Alouette 1: A Space Pioneer

When Alouette 1 launched in September 1962, Canada became the third country to send a satellite into space. At that time, Canada only had rockets that could reach the upper atmosphere. So, NASA (the American space agency) launched Alouette 1 from Vandenberg Air Force Base in Lompoc, California.

Alouette 1 was very well-built. It worked for ten years, much longer than expected. This success led to more studies of the ionosphere with the ISIS satellite program. This was a joint project between Canada and the U.S.

In 1972, Canada launched Anik A-1. This made Canada the first country to have its own geostationary communication satellite network. Geostationary satellites stay in the same spot above Earth.

Forming the CSA

All these space activities in the 1980s led the Canadian government to create the Canadian Space Agency. The Canadian Space Agency Act became law on May 10, 1990. The agency officially started on December 14, 1990.

The CSA's main goal is to use space for peaceful purposes. It aims to learn more about space through science. It also makes sure that space science and technology help Canadians and benefit the economy. The CSA wants to lead in using space knowledge for everyone's good.

CSA Presidents

• 1989 – May 4, 1992 — Larkin Kerwin
• May 4, 1992 – July 15, 1994 — Roland Doré
• November 21, 1994 – 2001 — William MacDonald Evans
• November 22, 2001 – November 28, 2005 — Marc Garneau
• April 12, 2007 – December 31, 2007 — Larry J. Boisvert
• January 1, 2008 – September 2, 2008 — Guy Bujold
• September 2, 2008 – February 1, 2013 — Steven MacLean
• February 2, 2013 – August 5, 2013 — Gilles Leclerc (interim)
• August 6, 2013 – November 3, 2014 — Walter Natynczyk
• November 3, 2014 – March 9, 2015 — Luc Brûlé, Interim
• March 9, 2015 – September 14, 2020 — Sylvain Laporte
• September 14, 2020 – present — Lisa Campbell

Working with Europe

The CSA has worked with the European Space Agency (ESA) since the 1970s. Canada also partners with other space agencies like NASA, ISRO, and JAXA.

Canada's space teamwork with Europe 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 to be part of ESA programs and helps with scientific instruments. Canadian companies can also get contracts to work on ESA projects. This special agreement was renewed in 2010 for another 10 years, until 2020.

Canada's Space Program

The Canadarm (right) on the Space Shuttle during mission STS-72.

The Mobile Base System being installed by Canadarm2 on the International Space Station during STS-111.

The Canadian Space Agency manages Canada's space program. Canada has given a lot of technology, knowledge, and people to global space efforts. This is especially true in its work with ESA and NASA.

Besides its astronauts and satellites, Canada is famous for its robotic arms. These include 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 cost $1.3 billion. It includes Canadarm2, Dextre (a smaller robotic hand), and the Mobile Base System. These parts work together to move things and help astronauts on the ISS.

These robotic arms use the Advanced Space Vision System. This system helps the arms see and work more precisely. Another Canadian invention is the Orbiter Boom Sensor System. This was an extension for the original Canadarm. It helped inspect the Space Shuttle's heat shield for damage in space. This boom was later modified for use on the ISS.

Canadian Astronauts

The CSA has looked for new astronauts four times.

• 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 latest group, chosen in 2017, includes Joshua Kutryk and Jennifer Sidey.

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

In December 2012, Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield launched to the International Space Station. In June 2015, the Canadian government promised to keep supporting the International Space Station. This secured flights for Canada's remaining active astronauts.

In May 2016, the CSA announced that David Saint-Jacques would fly to the International Space Station in November 2018 for six months. He was part of the Expedition 58/59 crew.

A Canadian astronaut will also be part of the Artemis 2 mission. This mission will fly around the Moon. This will be the first time a Canadian travels beyond low Earth orbit. This is part of an agreement between the United States and Canada from 2020.

Canadian Satellites

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.

Other companies like Telesat have also launched satellites. These include the Anik and Nimiq satellites. Universities and aerospace companies in Canada also develop technology and research satellites.

International Space Projects

The CSA helps with many international space projects. These include satellites, rovers, and space telescopes. The CSA has provided parts for projects by ESA, NASA, ISRO, and JAXA.

For example, Canada contributed the Fine Guidance Sensor to NASA's James Webb Space Telescope. This sensor helps the telescope point very accurately.

CSA Facilities

• John H. Chapman Space Centre – Longueuil, Quebec (main headquarters)
• David Florida Laboratory – Ottawa, Ontario (tests satellites)
• Canadian Space Agency Building – Innovation Place Research Park – Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Canada has used several places to launch rockets and satellites:

Launch Sites in Canada

• Churchill Rocket Research Range / SpacePort Canada, Manitoba

Launch Sites in the United States

• Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida
• Kennedy Space Center, Florida
• Vandenberg Space Force Base, California
• Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia

Other International Launch Sites

• Satish Dhawan Space Centre, India
• Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
• Dombarovsky Air Base, Russia
• Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russia

Future Space Plans

After the successful launch of Radarsat-2 in December 2007 and finishing its work on the International Space Station in early 2008, the CSA looked for new big projects.

In November 2008, the CSA signed a contract to start designing the RADARSAT Constellation mission. This mission uses three satellites to observe Earth. These satellites were launched on June 12, 2019. The CSA also received money in 2009 to design robotic rovers for the Moon and Mars.

On February 28, 2019, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Canada's commitment to the Lunar Gateway. This is a NASA-led project to build a small space station orbiting the Moon. Canada was the first international partner to join. As part of this, Canada promised to spend $2.05 billion over 24 years to develop the next generation of Canadarm, called Canadarm 3. This is Canada's largest financial commitment to a single space project ever.

The CSA is also developing a small lunar rover as part of the Artemis program. This robotic rover is being built with NASA. It will explore a polar region of the Moon and be able to survive the cold lunar night. The mission will carry at least two science instruments and is planned to launch by 2026.

Rockets and Launching

A Canadian Black Brant XII launching from Wallops Flight Facility.

The Canadian Space Agency does not have its own rockets to launch spacecraft into orbit. Canada relies on other countries like the U.S., India, and Russia to launch its satellites. However, both the Defence Department and the CSA are looking into building a Canadian-made rocket.

In 2011, the CSA announced it was looking for places in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, or possibly reopening the Churchill Rocket Research Range in Manitoba. These sites could be used to launch 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. No funding has been announced for these projects yet.

A new launch facility is being built in Canso, Nova Scotia. It is expected to be ready in 2024–2025. This facility is for commercial launches of the Ukrainian Cyclone-4M rocket. The CSA has not announced any involvement with this project.

See also

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