Grants and Contributions

The discovery of Earth-like planets and their atmospheric characterization are a top astrophysics priority. Stars that are smaller than half a solar mass offer potentially the best prospects. Consequently, the Photometric Observations of Extrasolar Transits (POET) mission, which focuses on this question, has been identified as a high scientific priority for space astronomy.

The project aims to optimize the yield of new Earth-like extrasolar planets with the proposed POET micro-satellite mission. The main objectives are to assemble a sample of the 100 best candidate host stars for detecting Earth-like planets with POET, and to test the use of commercial low-cost infrared cameras to improve sensitivity. The validation of commercial infrared cameras for accurate observations could further facilitate their adoption for remote-sensing in disciplines well beyond Astronomy, such as Planetary Exploration, Atmospheric Sciences, and Earth System Science. The stream of junior researchers trained in the POET projects will be well positioned to lead these scientific and technological developments.

The terrains of the Moon and Mars consist of fine granular regolith with embedded rocks. During the Apollo 15 mission, the Apollo Lunar Roving Vehicle became stuck in such soil, and had to be freed manually by astronauts. Mars rovers have also suffered mobility challenges including entrapment in soft soil. There had been very limited experimental mobility data collected in reduced gravity to study this problem. Understanding the nature of interactions with granular terrains is thus crucial to exploring these high priority destinations.

The purpose of this project is to study Lunar rover mobility on regolith (loose soil) in reduced gravity. The main objectives are developing guidelines for using on-Earth testing in 1-g, along with modeling and simulation, to predict mobility performance in the Lunar environment.

All aspects of this research, from the reduced-gravity testing to the validation of on-Earth testing and models, position Canada at the cutting-edge of planetary rover research and maintain its global position of leadership in space robotics. Students involved inspire the next generation of Canadians to reach for the stars. The methods developed can be applied to the design of the upcoming Canadian Lunar Rover, as well as any of the other upcoming Lunar or planetary rovers being developed by Canada’s partners around the world.

A number of studies have established statistical links between artificial light at night (LAN) and the risk associated with certain diseases such as hormone-dependent cancers (HDCs). Recent studies with colour images taken by astronauts on the International Space Station show that the blue component of light is strongly linked to the occurrence of HDCs. To better characterize the level of LAN as well as its blue component, it is essential to have multispectral and multi-angular remote sensing techniques for LAN.

The calculations made by the model developed during this project will ultimately make it possible to deduce the risks associated with LAN to the health of Canadians and thus possibly modify usual night lighting practices to minimize these risks. The HABLAN project also provides an opportunity to increase the diversity of space-based science critical to clean growth and monitoring the health of the planet and, more specifically, that of Canadians. LAN remote sensing makes it possible to better understand climate change by determining the radiative effect of aerosols, but it also makes it possible to better protect ecosystems and societies against the adverse effects of night light on living organisms. In addition, the issue of reducing light pollution offers great opportunities for education and increased awareness among Canadians.

Dr. Cloutis has been involved in the NASA Mars Perseverance Rover mission since 2013, as a Co-Investigator on the Mastcam-Z
Science Team (and as a Collaborator on the SuperCam Science Team). Mastcam-Z was selected for flight on the rover and is
currently operating on Mars. He proposes to continue, deepen, and expand this involvement through this Announcement of
Opportunity.
With this Co-Investigator grant he will be able to more fully participate in this ongoing mission. The Co-Investigator grant will
allow: (1) The proposer to attend team meetings of the full rover team and Mastcam-Z and SuperCam teams; (2) fund
Canadian students to contribute more fully to rover and instrument operations in various roles; (3) respond to new discoveries
by the mission via short-turnaround supporting laboratory studies; (4) train Canadian students via analogue field deployment
to be able to better engage in rover data analysis; (5) bring new Canadian HQP into planetary exploration

Mission Co-Investigators (Co-Is) are selected to broaden the scientific expertise of the team, and to facilitate mission
success by providing aid with addressing the mission goals. Through his 20 years of mission experience, Tornabene and his
team will continue to refine the calibration of CaSSIS, develop data products, contribute to the ongoing development of
mission operations and research tools, enable public involvement, and regularly support mission operations, training and
outreach activities. Tornabene is specifically tasked by the CaSSIS PI with contributing, maintaining and prioritizing all
targets that fall under the science themes of “Impacts” and “Composition”. He is also tasked to lead, facilitate, and
collaborate on, science investigations that fall under, or relate to, these themes

Canada has committed efforts to push humanity further into the solar system beyond the International Space Station to more distant destinations like the Moon and Mars. However, travelling with the astronauts on these longer-duration missions are risks for muscle loss and weakness, bone fragility and cognitive decline, all of which will compromise astronaut well-being and the mission at hand. This research seeks to determine whether stopping an enzyme called glycogen synthase kinase 3 can slow the functional decline of muscles, bone, and brain not only in space but also here on Earth, providing novel therapeutic strategies for human health.

Reducing the risks to human health is critical for long-duration space flight. Space radiation and micro-gravity can negatively impact health, yet the combined effects of these factors remain unclear. Our project seeks to understand how the combined effects radiation and microgravity interact and damage healthy tissue such as muscles, bones, eyes, and brains using a model that simulates space flight. We will then determine if a dietary supplement can counteract these effects and protect tissues. This study will provide us with a clear understanding of how the body is affected by space travel and begin exploring meaningful countermeasures.

Astronauts lose substantial amounts of bone during space missions. Abnormalities in the way the body handles phosphate
has been linked to bone loss on Earth. Astronauts on the International Space Station consume high levels of phosphate, but
it is unknown whether this contributes to bone loss during space travel. In this study, the objective is to determine whether
phosphate metabolism is altered and whether dietary phosphate contributes to bone loss in microgravity. The results of
this study could inform optimal nutrient contents of astronaut diets and may have implications for people on Earth who are
at risk for bone loss.

This project aims to translate a hibernation-related mechanism of muscle atrophy resistance to astronauts. The microgravity conditions of space invariably lead to profound loss of skeletal and cardiac muscle mass and performance, a phenomenon called spaceflight-induced disuse atrophy. However, hibernating mammals are remarkably resistant to muscle atrophy, and the team has recently identified a gut microbiome-based process that facilitates this resistance by building muscle protein. Here, the team uses proteomics techniques to determine which muscle proteins this process helps build and whether they will counter spaceflight-induced atrophy. The ultimate goal is to create a hibernation-like probiotic to facilitate atrophy resistance in astronauts.

Spaceflight is harsh: astronauts are exposed to radiation and microgravity, isolated and confined for weeks and months. Eventually, their cognition, sensation, movement, and coordination changes, affecting their performance. We will study brain images from previous astronauts to determine how their brain health was affected by the spaceflight using methods that the research team developed to track the effect of aging. An increased understanding of the impact of space travel will allow to better evaluate the effect of countermeasures, which could be applied here on Earth to different clinical population, including patients affected by brain degeneration such as Alzheimer’s disease.