Grants and Contributions

This project entitled « Cosmology from the Stratosphere: Gravitational waves and Gravitational lensing with Spider and SuperBIT » aims to develop and fly the Spider and SuperBIT telescopes. Spider will search for gravitational waves from moments after the Big Bang, providing a unique view of the early Universe. SuperBIT, by providing large images of distant galaxies with detail comparable to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, will help to probe the distribution of dark matter through distortions in space caused by gravity.
Although the capabilities of current conventional balloon platforms provide some of the benefits of space- based observations, the unique combination of sub-arc second stability for long exposure and wide-field observations over nearly one hundred nights would represent a fundamentally new capability, and for astrophysics at optical wavelengths in general. SuperBIT will usher in an era of low-cost, frequent access to space-like observing conditions that will benefit a wide range of astronomy, astrophysics, and cosmology objectives.

This project entitled « , AVATARS: Arctic Validation And Training for Atmospheric Research in Space » will use the Polar Environment Atmospheric Research Laboratory (PEARL) at Eureka, Nunavut as a “space station on the ground”, enhancing its instruments and contributing to the validation of data from current and upcoming space missions. The project will include the development of techniques for remote operation and automation of instruments, improved data analysis, and the use of PEARL atmospheric measurements to validate global satellite data products.
This project will be contributing to the development of hardware and software for atmospheric remote sounding and new and improved retrieval strategies for trace gases, aerosols, and clouds. It will also enable participation in new validation efforts associated with OCO-2 and TROPOMI and possibly with future missions such as China's carbon dioxide observation satellite TanSat.

This project entitled « CubeSat Electrodynamic Tether Deorbit Experiment (CETDE) » fosters the development of a critical mass of researchers and HQP in Canadian Space Sector by conducting a CubeSat Electrodynamic Tether Deorbit Experiment.
The experiment involves two CubeSats linked by a 400m bare tape electrodynamic tether (EDT), to be launched from the International Space Station. It will demonstrate the propellant less EDT propulsion technology, the feasibility of deorbiting end-of-mission/dysfunctionnal satellites and space debris by EDT and new ideas in conducting science experiments using Tethered CubeSats.

This project entitled « On-Orbit Technology Demonstration of Sub-wavelength Antireflection Surface (SWAS) for CubeSat Solar Power Production Increase » from this project, a CubeSat payload will be developed to engineer and test the flight-ready solar power payload, demonstrate the technology on a CubeSat for on-orbit demonstration, and analyze the on-orbit data to validate the performance.
Therefore, the principal technology development activity is to design, characterize and operate a technology-demonstration payload for a CubeSat mission to examine the increase in power production when using an anti-reflection surface on solar cell cover glass.
This new technique has great potential to increase power production without adding mass or volume to the CubeSat. Furthermore, this general technique may be combined with deployable solar arrays, or high-efficiency solar concentrator cells. By demonstrating the on-orbit performance of this made-in-Canada technology, this project aims to enable the CubeSat community to extend their mission capabilities.
Hence, it is likely to be integrated into numerous CubeSats and other small satellite missions where surface areas are limited for solar panels. Consequently, the commercialization of this technology is also a likely outcome, as the proposed technology presents a low-cost solution for high-demand applications for the small satellite community.
They will also work closely with the mission team in Germany to gain valuable experience in working with international collaborators for an end-to-end project.

This project entitled « The Aniu Experiment » the Aniu Experiment aims to validate and calibrate two cameras for use in detecting frosts in permanently shadowed regions near the South Pole of the Moon. For such environments, the principal source of light is starlight in the far ultraviolet part of the spectrum and it is the reflection of this starlight, detected in the Aniu Cameras, which will guide future rovers exploring this region to the ices they seek, as once the aboriginal peoples of the eastern Arctic navigated to find “snow used to make water” (from the Inuktitut: Aniu).
This project will achieve a deeper understanding of Lyman-α region imaging instruments to advance the technology required to produce a camera capable of detecting exposures of water ice on the moon.
The technology and techniques developed during this project have a high likelihood of being used on a lunar prospecting mission to the PSRs, should Canada decide to contribute an instrument.

This project entitled « Detection and Assessment of Microbial Biosignatures in Basalts by UV Raman spectroscopy and Direct Analysis » will ascertain whether there is evidence that life on Mars requires understanding of the signatures life creates and the development of ways to detect these ""biosignatures“. Lava flows in the Snake River Plain of Idaho and the Rift Zones in Hawaii represent analogues to basalts on modern and ancient Mars. The project will add new knowledge and develop Canadian expertise in space science via the analogue studies examining microbial populations in volcanic terrains on Earth and how they relate to the geochemical and geological conditions, precisely it will answer the questions how biomarker types and amounts correlate with geochemical conditions (e.g. mineralogy, texture) within the basalts and how their presence and preservation is related to interactions with water. Results will demonstrate the application of Raman spectroscopy for biosignature detection and inform sample site selection for future Mars missions.
This project aims at helping to identify other potential habitable environments on other planets.

This project entitled « Volcanic analogue mission for planetary exploration (VAMPE) » the Volcanic Analogue Mission for Planetary Exploration (VAMPE) will use volcanic terrains on Earth as analogue sites for the testing of new techniques for the future human and robotic exploration of the solar system. Volcanism is a common process on many worlds in our solar system, and can teach us much about the origin, structure, and evolution of our planetary neighbours. The goal of the project will be to test new scientific instrumentation in a variety of volcanic terrains at Craters of the Moon National Monument in Idaho, immersing participants in real life science and operations scenarios.
This project will address objectives related to Planetary Exploration specifically, it will focus on the Planetary Geology and Geophysics objective by addressing questions related to the origin and evolution of volcanic terrains on terrestrial planets.

Programme to Foster Capabilities Against Terrorism