Grants and Contributions

This project entitled « The Aniu Experiment » the Aniu Experiment aims to validate and calibrate two cameras for use in detecting frosts in permanently shadowed regions near the South Pole of the Moon. For such environments, the principal source of light is starlight in the far ultraviolet part of the spectrum and it is the reflection of this starlight, detected in the Aniu Cameras, which will guide future rovers exploring this region to the ices they seek, as once the aboriginal peoples of the eastern Arctic navigated to find “snow used to make water” (from the Inuktitut: Aniu).
This project will achieve a deeper understanding of Lyman-α region imaging instruments to advance the technology required to produce a camera capable of detecting exposures of water ice on the moon.
The technology and techniques developed during this project have a high likelihood of being used on a lunar prospecting mission to the PSRs, should Canada decide to contribute an instrument.

This project entitled « Detection and Assessment of Microbial Biosignatures in Basalts by UV Raman spectroscopy and Direct Analysis » will ascertain whether there is evidence that life on Mars requires understanding of the signatures life creates and the development of ways to detect these ""biosignatures“. Lava flows in the Snake River Plain of Idaho and the Rift Zones in Hawaii represent analogues to basalts on modern and ancient Mars. The project will add new knowledge and develop Canadian expertise in space science via the analogue studies examining microbial populations in volcanic terrains on Earth and how they relate to the geochemical and geological conditions, precisely it will answer the questions how biomarker types and amounts correlate with geochemical conditions (e.g. mineralogy, texture) within the basalts and how their presence and preservation is related to interactions with water. Results will demonstrate the application of Raman spectroscopy for biosignature detection and inform sample site selection for future Mars missions.
This project aims at helping to identify other potential habitable environments on other planets.

This project entitled « Volcanic analogue mission for planetary exploration (VAMPE) » the Volcanic Analogue Mission for Planetary Exploration (VAMPE) will use volcanic terrains on Earth as analogue sites for the testing of new techniques for the future human and robotic exploration of the solar system. Volcanism is a common process on many worlds in our solar system, and can teach us much about the origin, structure, and evolution of our planetary neighbours. The goal of the project will be to test new scientific instrumentation in a variety of volcanic terrains at Craters of the Moon National Monument in Idaho, immersing participants in real life science and operations scenarios.
This project will address objectives related to Planetary Exploration specifically, it will focus on the Planetary Geology and Geophysics objective by addressing questions related to the origin and evolution of volcanic terrains on terrestrial planets.

This project entitled « A cryogenic far-infrared Fabry-Perot interferometer as a potential Canadian contribution to the SPICA Safari instrument » aims to develop a cryogenic, far-infrared, Fabry-Perot spectrometer. This spectrometer will employ a novel design that not only builds on Canadian heritage in infrared spectroscopy, but also positions Canada to play a leading role in future far infrared space astronomy missions. If successful, it could be a potential Canadian contribution for the Safari instrument set to be part of the ESA/JAXA SPICA mission.

This project entitled « Innovative Versatile Optical Fiber Sensors Suite for Space Applications » consists of developing new sensors for the monitoring of high temperature and material erosion that are common during the launch and the re-entry of space vehicle.

This project entitled « Design and Development of a Q/V Band Composite Reflector Antenna System » consists of designing and developing a novel ground-based antenna prototype for satellite communications (Satcom) applications. The frequency parmeters for this antenna system have been chosen to be compatible with proposed next-generation of Stacom systems.

This project entitled «Flexible Channel Routers and Input Assemblies for High Throughput Satellite Communications» consists of developing the required electronics tailored to meet the demand for an increasingly faster transfer of information via telecommunications satellites. The newest generation of these satellites, called High Throughput Satellites (HTS), offer internet connectivity anywhere in the world at speeds much greater than traditional satellites.

This project entitled «Novel Ka Wideband Filters and Ancillaries» consists of developing advanced electronics onboard telecommunications satellites in order to meet the increasing demand for larger and faster satellite data throughput. This technology would improve the efficiency at which signal filters on satellites can process and separate multiple signals sent on different frequency channels. It would prevent these signals from interfering with each other while allowing their proper dispatch to the designated end users.

This project entitled «Fifth Generation Switch Actuator» consists of reducing the mass and size of a key mechanical component used aboard telecommunications satellites. This component is called an actuator and is the mechanism responsible for the reliable operation of signal switches. These switches are essential to the proper routing of signals coming into a satellite from a ground user and sent back to another ground user, or users. Since satellites host many of these activator-controlled switches, their mass and size are a key factor in determining which ones will be used in their construction.

This project entitled «Next Generation HTS Flexible Architecture Products» aims to develop state-of-the-art electronics components for telecommunications satellites to provide high data and information traffic throughput. More specifically, this development will yield technical advancements for a component called Output Multiplexer which is essentially responsible for combining separate signals being linked up to a satellite from different ground users and which need to be combined (multiplexed) on-board the satellite before being aggregately transferred to specific ground users.