Grants and Contributions

Studies on spaceflights lasting more than one year have shown that, due to weightlessness, astronauts on long missions may lose as much as twenty percent of their bone mass, which leads to a significant increase in risk of fracture and other complications.

Following the previous work and discovery in bone-resorbing osteoclasts and in optimizing bone cell culture in simulated microgravity, the present project aims to determine the molecular mechanism behind bone loss in astronauts. The main objectives include the grow of osteoclasts on bone surfaces in simulated microgravity, comparison of the osteoclasts grown in static culture to those in simulated microgravity, and the direct measurement of osteoclast morphology, ultrastructure, differentiation, fusion and bone-resorbing activity.

In addition to engaging trainees' in discovery-based microgravity research and developing novel bone cell micro carriers, this work will identify potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of osteoporosis in astronauts and in patients on Earth.

The potential to identify and analyze distributions of isotopologues would provide new opportunities in the search for biosignatures of life as part of astrobiology-related space missions.

This project aims to extend the capabilities of a planetary science laboratory instrument that combines three measurement techniques for Mars exploration: laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence. In particular, the laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy mode of the instrument will be extended to measure isotopes of key elements important for dating and discrimination of biological and abiological signatures.

This work will result in new knowledge on the environmental sensitivity of these techniques in environments relevant to the Earth, Moon, Mars, asteroids and comets; providing new capabilities for planetary exploration. It will also be valuable in understanding and updating the requirements for a future flight instrument.

The terrains of Mars and the Moon consist of fine granular regolith with embedded rocks. The entrapment of the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit in soft regolith and the tears and punctures in the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover's wheels demonstrate some of the current mobility challenges of extraterrestrial granular terrains. Understanding the nature of interactions with granular terrains is thus crucial to exploring these high priority destinations.

This project aims to advance robot mobility in granular terrains, through studying the effects of reduced gravity on wheel-soil interactions. A crucial long-term contribution of such experimental work is the development and validation of models and/or on-Earth soil simulants general enough to eventually supplant the need to fly reduced-gravity campaigns for each new wheel/soil/gravity configuration. Such reduced-gravity rover soil testing apparatus could provide an experimentation infrastructure for Canadian companies to test, validate, and raise the technology readiness level of wheels for any planned Lunar or Martian rovers.

This research will contribute to Canada being at the cutting-edge of planetary rover research, to maintaining its global position of leadership in space robotics, and to inspiring the next generation of Canadians to reach for the stars.

Validation is crucial to the success of every satellite mission. Without validation, the ability to interpret satellite measurements for scientific studies is significantly hampered or, in some cases, rendered impossible. This is especially true for satellite missions that focus on questions of the carbon cycle.

The project's objectives are to improve atmospheric trace gas retrievals from a ground-based remote sensing observatory, and to perform scientific investigations of Canadian urban greenhouse gas emissions. By combining space-based and ground-based remote sensing measurements of greenhouse gases, project results will provide Canadians with scientific evidence upon which to base public policy regarding Canada's greenhouse gas emissions.

Contribution to assist Algonquins of Ontario in submitting a written intervention to the Commission regarding the enviornmental assesment scoping decision for Global First Power's micro modular reactor project.

Preparatory work by Saulteau First Nations to get ready for a Southern Mountain Caribou Partnership Agreement

Supporting engagement of Alberta Counties in Habitat Conservation for Species at Risk

Participant Funding related to Consultations for Schedule 2 Amendments to the Metal and Diamond Mining Effluent Regulations - Ginoogaming First Nation

Launching the Prairie Climate Services Network - A New Organization to Deliver Climate Services in the Prairie Provinces

Advancing Boreal Caribou Conservation with Mikisew Cree First Nation