Grants and Contributions

Radiation prediction, monitoring, and protection technologies are a key part of all space missions. The construction of radiation detectors for long-duration exploration missions presents particular challenges because of stringent size, weight and power requirements.

The proposed work aims to assess silicon photomultipliers as an enabling technology for miniaturized radiation spectrometers. These silicon devices have the potential to replace traditional, bulky photomultiplier tubes, significantly reducing the size and power consumption of radiation-detection instrumentation with little or no loss of performance when compared to traditional photomultiplier tubes. Potential applications of this technology include exploration missions to the Moon and Mars, stratospheric balloon flights, and small satellite missions, as well as use in terrestrial fields such as homeland security, law enforcement and health physics.

Actuators transform electrical energy into mechanical energy to move and control mobile devices. Magnetorheological (MR) actuation is a unique technology with exceptional dynamic performance thanks to the MR fluid's viscosity that increases when exposed to a magnetic field, almost to the point of becoming solid. Actuators using MR fluids present characteristics making them very interesting for use in space compared to other types of actuators: increased performance, lower mass and more safety when used for applications involving human-robot interactions.

Exonetik proposes to study the feasibility of using MR actuators in inhabited space environments for future space missions. More specifically, the work will consist in assessing the most critical risks of using MR actuators in space environments: launch vibrations, in-use outgassing, and safety of use. The biggest technological unknown lies around outgassing. Conventional off-the-shelf MR fluids use hydrocarbon-based oils and are known to outgas significantly in some operating conditions. The working hypothesis is that a custom formulation designed specifically for low outgassing, and involving perfluoropolyether (PFPE), would perform well in a space environment.

Hyperspectral imaging, which processes the electromagnetic properties of each pixel in the frame of an image, can be used to identify the materials that make up a scanned object or environment. Air and space-borne hyperspectral instruments, which often use Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) sensor arrays, are fundamental to Earth observation processes.

ITRES Research proposes to design a high-performance CMOS sensor array with 3,000 across-track pixels, twice the size of current state of the art CMOS focal plane arrays (FPAs). Earth observation payload designs currently require two CMOS focal plane arrays to achieve the required across-track swath. This project initiates the development of a CMOS focal plane array that can meet the same performance criteria as current FPAs, while also meeting the spatial swath needs of Canada's Earth observation community.

Earth's magnetosphere contains ionized particles that can cause damage to electrical systems in spacecraft.

DPL Science has developed the Dielectric Deep Charge Monitor (DDCM) to warn of possible deep charging in spacecraft. This project aims to develop multiple sample measurement capabilities in the DDCM and to allow the DDCM to be incorporated into radiation monitoring suites. This project will also work to upgrade DPL Science's Spacecraft Power Module to withstand radiation encountered between 2,000 km and 35,786 km from Earth's equator, which will greatly increase potential applications for the module.

Design and development of a recommendation engine and key backend components for GradsFinder

Creating a unified framework for the C3 automation algorithms and data structures

Project develops the user-source framework that enables our clients to customize their CFD experience without relying on direct involvement by Envenio developers.

Development of an innovative sol-gel matrix that can be used as a coating in the preparation of high performance hybrid xerogel surfaces for markets where the demand for bio-resistant surfaces (antifouling) is pressing as in the maritime field.