Canadian Space Agency Achievements and Contributions of our Northern Neighbors

CSA Timeline

Origins: The Topside Sounder Project Originally an outgrowth of military rocketry and satellite research. Project S-27 the “Topside Sounder” project culminated in the joint launch of Allouette 1 by Canada and NASA. Source: FriendsofCRC.CA With the success of Allouette 1 Canada became the third nation to put a satellite in space. Today the Allouette 1 satellite is inactive, but still in orbit and is expected to continue orbiting for another millennium.

ISIS (International Satellites for Ionospheric Studies) Along with Allouette 2, ISIS 1 and 2 studied the ionosphere and its role in radio transmission. An additional satellite, ISIS 3, was abandoned in favor of telecommunications satellites. Source: asc-csa.gc.ca Source: Niwa.co.nz

Anik Telecommunications Satellites The Anik A satellites made Canada the first country to possess a nationwide geostationary communications network. While Satellite design has evolved, the Anik program endured from 1972 to 2007 with many newer satellites still functional. Source: ewh.ieee.org Early model Anik satellite Source: asc-csa.gc.ca Late model Anik satellite

Canada's Farthest Reaching Contribution? Canadarm was designed for use on the Space Shuttle for heavy payloads. Canadarm's controls adjust the position of the end effector instead of individual joints. Payload capacity was 7,260 lbs (3293 kg). Source: Wikipedia

Canadarm 2 (Mobile Servicing System) A second model, Canadarm 2, was installed on the ISS to assist in assembling the station. The passage of components from the shuttle's arm to the space station's arm came to be known as the “Canadian handshake” ▲Source: wikipedia ▼Source: Nasa

Canadarm gets a Promotion For Discovery's return to flight mission in 2005 Canadarm was equipped with the Orbiter Boom Sensor System (OBSS). The OBSS inspects the shuttle's heat shield for damage prior to re- entry. This inspection was mandatory for every mission since Source: CBC News The OBSS acts as an extension of Canadarm and is built with many of the same parts.

Dextre: The Canada Hand Dextre is mounted to Canadarm 2 to perform maintenance, inspection, and cargo handling tasks. Dextre can be controlled by operators on earth, performing additional duties while the ISS crew sleeps. Source: National Geographic Dextre provides Canadarm 2 with two finger-like extensions and a number of sensors and interchangeable tools.

Canadarm Inspires Friends. The Japanese experimental module (JEM) is equipped with the Remote Manipulator System (RMS). A European Robotic Arm (ERA) will soon be mounted to the European module of the ISS. ▲The RMS arm on the Japanese module Source: iss.jaxa.jp ▼ ERA awaits launch. Source: spaceinimages.esa.int