Grants and Contributions

CSA SMUG - SELF-MOTION UNDER GRAVITY
When humans move from the normal constant one gravity environment found on earth a range of different perceptual systems must operate under unusual conditions resulting the systematic errors in fundamental measures including the perception of self-motion. Understanding how humans integrate cues to their self-motion under such circumstances is critical for humans to operate safely and effectively off earth. In collaboration with German partners and the DLR, the CSASMUG project is building a model of how humans integrate gravity and other cues to estimate their self-motion and is developing countermeasures and display technology based on this model.

UNDERSTANDING RELATIVE CONTRIBUTIONS OF FLUID FLOW AND MECHANICAL STRAIN TO BONE ADAPTATION IN ALTERED GRAVITY.
Bone loss in astronauts is a major challenge for long-duration space exploration. In weightlessness, muscles are used less often, thus providing less stimulation of bone. Microgravity also induces fluid shift from the lower body towards the head, the role of which in bone loss is unclear. We aim to develop imaging, computational and pharmacological tools to examine contributions of fluid flow and mechanical strain to bone adaptation to mechanical environment using mouse models of mechanical loading and immobilization-induced unloading. Understanding the links between microgravity and bone adaptation will help to prevent bone loss in long-duration human space flights.

The need for ionospheric measurement is especially important in Auroral and Polar regions where the ionosphere is turbulent and contains unique features to be studied. An ionosonde is a radar designed to sound the ionosphere. The radar transmits radio waves and listens for corresponding echoes from the ionosphere.

The project is aimed toward the development of a low power high frequency (HF) radar system, intended for flexible deployments in hostile and remote environments such as Spacecraft and Arctic locations. More specifically, results could have potential impacts on improvements in our understanding of solar-terrestrial interactions in the Canadian Arctic and technological advances in Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS).

A synthetic aperture radar (SAR) is an airborne or space-borne radar enabling the generation of high-resolution remote sensing imagery. The project's overall purpose is to develop a novel ground and airborne sensor technology, and to provide major leverage to highly qualified personnel (HQP) trainees' research on enhancing Arctic land and planetary applications of space borne synthetic aperture radar (SAR).

The main objectives are developing and evaluating the novel technology and deriving models to retrieve soil and snow structure parameters, and surface displacement over permafrost. Technology development includes an experimental miniature airborne SAR, and a novel ground sensor configuration to measure the permafrost's active layer's seasonal motion under snow cover.

Human space exploration is dangerous at all levels. The overall goal of this project is to test and deploy the infrastructure needed for a swarm of robots to collaborate in the exploration and mapping of planetary environments such as surface, caves, or lava tubes. This would allow exploration on the Moon with a swarm of highly autonomous small-size robots, controlled by a single audio-visual interface. As part of the project, a software and hardware system will be integrated into a prototype to be tested using robots at analogue sites.

This project will result in the validation of a self-organizing system composed of multiple entities for the exploration of an underground environment. This technology could also be used on Earth, as the robots could be used to aid in emergency response situations to provide connectivity and other capabilities in areas without a functioning communication infrastructure (e.g. earthquake hit zones).

Light pollution occurs when Artificial Light at Night (ALAN) is emitted into the environment at levels and/or at times that have a disturbing impact on it. Several studies have established statistical links between ALAN and the risk associated with certain diseases such as hormone-sensitive cancers (HSC). Recent studies based on colour images taken by astronauts on the International Space Station demonstrate that the blue component of light is strongly linked to the occurrence of HSC.

The main objectives of the project include developing an ALAN remote sensing technique from the stratosphere, refining the analysis of data acquired on the ground, validating the remote sensing method, and using the remote sensing data in a digital model in order to identify the associated risks to the health of Canadians. Stratospheric remote sensing enables the measurement of large areas within a short timeframe. These measurements will be made on board flights of stratospheric balloons, while field measurements will be made by placing the ALANcube (a device developed by the project team) on a motorized vehicle traversing the territory overflown by the balloon.

Aquatic ecosystems are changing as a result of global climate change. When ice in permafrost melts in the Arctic, aquatic ecosystems are impacted when sediment and organic matter are released into rivers and lakes. These changes have effects that include impacts on nutrient cycling, oxygen depletion and fish populations. While these changes have been documented for many lakes across the Arctic, we have no information on their geographical extent and how to best map and monitor the situation.

The research project focusses on how to use field observations and Earth Observation satellite data to augment insight into the spatial and temporal scope of these changes. Results will enable more timely and cost-effective adaptation to the changes, and a better scientific understanding of the processes involved.

The project purpose is to discover Earth-like extrasolar planets that would be most amenable to atmospheric characterization and potential detection of biosignature gases.

The team aims to complete surveys with the Spitzer Space Telescope and the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) for planets transiting low-mass stars or brown dwarfs, to assess the sizes, orbits, and ensemble properties of the newly-discovered exoplanet population, and to create a ranked list of extrasolar Earth analogues for atmospheric characterization with the James Webb Space Telescope.

The project's Spitzer and TESS campaigns target the dimmest stars and sub-stellar objects (brown dwarfs). The project team has developed methods to distinguish the signature of transiting planets in the highly variable light curves of their hosts and is currently following up the first planet candidate.

An Animal Model to Prevent Shoulder Injuries in Microgravity
Shoulder's muscles and tendons combine their activities to provide mobility and stability when we move our arms. On Earth, shoulder muscles must counteract gravity to maintain in position the shoulder. In space, only muscle forces act and astronauts develop shoulder overuse injuries. Our ability to detect early signs of shoulder overuse is limited. As such, soft tissue tears develop unnoticed until they cause pain and serious functional deficits. We propose to study the shoulders of mudskippers, an amphibious fish, as a natural model that mirrors the dramatic changes in motions, gravitational forces experienced by astronauts' shoulders

EFFECT OF INDIVIDUALIZED ARTIFICIAL GRAVITY TRAINING ON CARDIOVASCULAR AND CEREBRAL RESPONSES IN MALES AND FEMALES DURING SUPINE TO STAND TESTS
Wobbly legs, dizzy spells and even fainting experienced by astronauts on return to Earth are serious health and safety concerns. One solution may be to provide artificial gravity from a centrifuge in space. Our group has shown that artificial gravity training on Earth increases standing tolerance, but the reasons behind this increase are not well understood, particularly for women who have not been included as often in previous studies. We will look the posture, cardiovascular and brain blood flow responses to an individualized artificial gravity program in men and women to better understand and use this technique to protect astronauts.