Grants and Contributions

The objective is to extend the data analysis from 'VASCULAR', a study that took place on the International Space Station.

Following the announcement of Opportunity (AO) published on the 23rd of February 2011, CSA is providing funding via a grant agreement to the University to allow a scientist to participate in the NASA Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission as a participating scientist.

This project entitled ""CanX-7 Deorbiting Demonstration Mission"" is a deorbiting demonstration mission involving a 3.5kg 10x10x34cm satellite deploying an atmospheric drag sail to accelerate return to Earth. The objective of the CanX-7 mission is to demonstrate technology (drag sail) that can be used on operational nano and microsatellite.

This project is entitled ""Ground-based signatures of energy input by ULF waves to the ionosphere, thermosphere, and radiation belts"".
Geomagnetic storms have an impact in space and on Earth as they can damage satellites orbiting near the Earth and are a threat to astronauts working in space. They also influence satellite navigation and communications and can seriously impair ground infrastructure and affect electric power networks. The team will use data from Canadian scientific instruments deployed on four satellites along with data from a series of ground instruments deployed across Canada to develop computer simulations of geomagnetic storms to better understand and mitigate the impact of space weather.

This project is entitled ""Improved space weather radiation belt radiation specification and forecasting using GO Canada data"".
The project team will generate computer-based models to improve our understanding of the Earth's radiation belts. The radiation belts contain energetic particles which are hazardous to satellites. The team will use data from Canadian magnetometer arrays deployed across Canada and instruments on foreign scientific satellites to develop their computer simulations and target how particles in near-Earth space are remarkably accelerated to reach speeds close to the speed of light. The goal is to advance our understanding of how this harsh space radiation is created and thereby target improved space weather forecasting and better protection of satellites from severe space weather effects.

This project is entitled ""Substorm triggering and advances in large GIC specification and forecasting using GO Canada data"".
The project team will investigate the connection between disturbances in the Earth's magnetosphere and geomagnetically induced currents (GICs) on the ground. GICs affect conductors on the surface of the Earth, including damaging electrical power grids, increasing corrosion of pipelines and causing electrical transformer failures. The team will use data from Canadian magnetometer arrays deployed across Canada and instruments on Canadian and foreign scientific satellites to improve our understanding of the events leading to the generation of large GICs. A better understanding of this phenomenon will help us to reduce the impact of space weather on Canadian infrastructure.

This project is entitled ""A GNSS auroral space weather product - quantifying auroral effects on global navigation systems"".
The project team will develop a computer-based model to better understand the impact of space weather on Global Navigation Satellite Systems, and devices like Global Positioning Systems (GPS). Space weather events such as aurora are known to interfere with radio signals broadcast by GPS satellites and can result in the loss of the GPS signal and greatly affect users. The team will use data from Canadian instrument arrays deployed across Canada that observe the ionosphere and aurora to develop and test their models to pursue their study.

This project is entitled ""Canadian geomagnetic variability - past present, and prediction"".
The project team will develop computer-based models of magnetic field variability across Canada. Changes in the Earth's magnetic field can generate unwanted electrical currents in pipelines and electrical systems, as well as interfering with activities such as directional drilling for oil and gas. In order to better understand and address this issue, the team will use data from Canadian magnetometer arrays and other instruments deployed across Canada to develop and test their models.

This project is entitled ""Geospace Observatory Canada energetic particle precipitation model"".
The project team will develop computer-based models simulating the high-energy electrons and other charged particles that rain down into the upper atmosphere over Canada. It is important to better understand this phenomenon as these particles interfere with radio communication, and affect the atmospheric chemistry which can influence our climate. The team will use data from a variety of Canadian instrument arrays deployed across Canada to develop and test their simulations.

This project is entitled ""Modeling substorm dipolarization and energetic particle precipitation in the ionosphere"".
The project team will develop a computer-based model showing the changes in the Earth's magnetic field that create energized electrons and other charged particles during geomagnetic storms. This represents a serious threat to satellites as their electronic components are sensitive to these particles. The team will use data from Canadian instrument arrays deployed across Canada that observe the ionosphere and aurora to develop and test their simulations.