Grants and Contributions

The objectives of this grant is to allow participation of a Canadian scientist to the JAXA XRISM science team.

The objectives of this project is to measure the transmission of X-rays through the optical blocking filters that will be placed at the entrance aperture of the Resolve micro-calorimeter spectrometer on XRISM. The project science includes participation to extragalactic diffuse x-ray emission team, data analyses and publications.

SpudNik-1 will develop and test an imaging system for precision agriculture. The system will be able to capture precise soil and crop data (texture, topography, moisture content, weed and disease infestations, crop damage, etc.) as well as verify the effectiveness of herbicide and fungicide applications, monitor physical damage due to insects, inundation, wind and hail, and schedule an irrigation plan. The goal is to develop better monitoring systems to promote greater sustainability.

The University of Prince Edward Island will be collaborating with the Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology in Russia as well as the Newfoundland based company C-CORE.

Quantum sensors use the unique and often strange behavior of matter at very small distances to perform ultra-sensitive and robust measurements. The UdeSat project will conduct one of the first demonstrations of a quantum sensor in space. This quantum sensor will use nitrogen-vacancy defects in a tiny piece of diamond to measure the intensity and orientation of the magnetic field in space. Such measurements are useful to study the effect of solar storms on radio communication, GPS or electrical grids, or the flow of magma under Earth's crust, for instance. Quantum technologies, such as this magnetometer, will lead to smaller, more energy efficient, and more sensitive sensors for space application

The CubeSat will be developed in collaboration with the École nationale d'aéronautique in Quebec.

The objective of this grant is to support the science team in charge of a JWST (James Webb Space Telescope) Guaranteed Time Observation program aimed at studying massive clusters of galaxies.

The Global Navigation Satellite System Reflectometry (GNSS-R) technique provides insight on certain surface conditions. Making use of freely-available GNSS signal reflections over land for remote sensing would represent a significant step forward. This project aims to develop a prototype GNSS-R receiver capable of making customizable surface reflection measurements from space to measure surface soil moisture content and variation, using signals from the many GNSS satellites currently in orbit.

The MAPLE project aims to advance the development of a small panoramic camera system developed for spaceflight and intended to be used to investigate the Martian atmosphere from the surface. The instrument will be enhanced in order to allow the MAPLE system to examine the vertical distribution of dust and ice aerosols near the surface and to constrain the size and shape of these particles. As our models of the Martian environment are derived from terrestrial weather forecasting models, proper validation at Mars will improve the accuracy and timeliness of weather forecasting on Earth.

The RDAX project aims to quantify the amount and distribution of high-energy particles deposited during geomagnetic storms by using Canadian-made X-ray imagers placed on 15 high-altitude balloons. The instrument will take images of high-energy particles striking the atmosphere. The data will allow researchers to disentangle the causes of high-energy particle precipitation and its effect on our environment.

Water rock reaction, known as serpentinization, has the potential to support life on other worlds (planets and moons). Detecting life at sites of serpentinization on other worlds requires the ability to find serpentization sites and detect biosignatures.

The SERP project aims to develop, deploy, and validate geophysical, spectral and remote sensing methods to detect surface and sub-surface expressions of serpentinization. It will help detect serpentinized springs and identify biosignatures of current life and biomarkers of past life.

The objective of this project is to design, build and make the first engineering flight of the GigaBIT telescope, a diffraction-limited 1.3 m visible/near-UV wide field imaging telescope. This project also aims to fly and analyze data from GigaBIT's predecessor, the SuperBIT balloon borne telescope. These telescopes, by providing large images of distant galaxies, will help to probe the distribution of dark matter through distortions in space caused by gravity. It will advance the technology of optical and near-UV telescopes and pointing systems, and advance our understanding of cluster physics, in addition to providing Canada with the most sensitive near-UV/visible imaging telescope in the world.