Grants and Contributions

Accretion onto black holes is the source of some of the most energetic photons observed in the Universe. The innermost region of the black hole accretion disk radiates mostly in X-rays for both stellar and supermassive mass black holes. This project will capitalize Canada’s participation in ASTROSAT by using the unparalleled simultaneous broadband X-ray data to probe the debated inner accretion dynamics of black holes across the mass range. The investigation lines up with one of Canada’s Long Range Plan main science themes (“What are the extreme conditions of the Universe?”) and with the Canadian priorities in High-Energy Astrophysics.

This project aims to develop, and field test a prototype of a novel ice melt probe system to access the shallow subsurface ice on the icy moons and retrieve meltwater samples that will be analyzed by three instruments. This project will provide excellent training and mentoring to Canadian HQP through synergistic interactions within a multidisciplinary team with integrated project components including site characterization, instrument development and the advancement of new technologies, testing in high fidelity analogue field sites, and determining pathogenicity risk assessments of Mars Sample Return (SMR).

The Canadian Atmospheric Laser Absorption Spectroscopy Experiment Test-bed (CALASET) aims to build a suite of instruments to verify measurements from Earth observing satellites. Ensuring that these space-based instruments are performing well is critical for producing reliable environmental data for Canadians. The CALASET-NXT project goals are two-fold: Develop new technologies for studying the changing atmosphere and providing a validation and verification capability for current and future satellite missions, and provide concept-to-flight education and training for the students who will become the scientists and engineers needed for future satellite missions.

Researchers at the University of Toronto (U of T) have developed a handheld 3D printer for the treatment of severe skin burns and wounds sustained by astronauts during deep-space missions. During the project, the function of an upgraded 3D printer and enhanced bioink will be evaluated during reduced gravity flights about the National Research Council of Canada (NRC)’s Falcon aircraft. In parallel, the ability of enhanced bioink to promote healing and reduce scarring will be confirmed. This work and its findings will bring this technology one step closer to deployment for clinical use in space. The skin printer also has the potential to improve the care and health outcomes associated with severe burns and chronic wounds in hospitals, as well as in rural, remote and Indigenous communities across Canada.

The project aim is to develop innovative space technology, specifically to develop and validate radiation-hardened RISC-V (Reduced Instructions Set Computing) microcontrollers. The microcontroller is based on an open-source RISC-V structure and will be fabricated with a 22nm FDSOI (Fully Depleted Silicon-on-Insulation) CMOS (Complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) technology to achieve high-speed and low-power performance. During the development of the project, training of Highly Qualified Personnel (HQPs) will be emphasized. The project targets on developing core radiation tolerance technologies for future spacecraft missions and can improve on-board computing capabilities.

The Canadian federal government has announced that Canada will be a major international partner in the NASA Atmosphere Observing System (AOS) satellite mission through the contribution of a system of three innovative satellite instruments collectively called HAWC (High-altitude Aerosol, Water Vapour and Clouds). One of these three satellite instruments is called SHOW (Spatial Heterodyne Observations of Water). This project aims to develop a dedicated balloon-borne SHOW (Spatial Heterodyne Observations of Water) instrument and demonstrate the utility of this prototype for HAWC satellite mission validation with a test flight on a stratospheric balloon. This project will enable the training of several highly qualified personnel (HQP). SHOW as part of the HAWC Mission will advance understanding of how water vapour is evolving in response to climate change and the impact of that change on weather climate.

The proposed Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC) system is a forward-looking initiative with a dual purpose: to enhance satellite communication capabilities and bolster the ability to detect and manage space debris. The main goal is to develop a sophisticated ISAC system that utilizes cutting-edge and dynamic transmitter technologies, allowing efficient spectrum usage and flexibility. Anticipated outcomes include the optimization of transmitter structures, the refinement of communication protocols for dynamic scenarios, and the creation of reliable hardware systems. Simultaneously, the project prioritizes student training, fostering a collaborative and supportive research environment.

The “Innovative Measurements of Auroral Geophysics for Education and Research” (IMAGER) project’s purpose is to demonstrate the capability of a CubeSat-borne mini plasma imager (MPI) to measure ionospheric winds and temperatures for future auroral science and space weather satellite missions, while training Canadian students in the skills needed to invent new scientific instruments and to carry out space physics research. IMAGER’s main objectives are to upgrade the MPI’s charged-particle sensor to increase sample rate and mitigate supply-chain risks; to fly the imager on a suborbital sounding rocket and a CubeSat to prove its measurement performance; to obtain new measurements of ionospheric ion drift and temperature.

Following the JWST ERS and Cycle 2 GO Announcement of Opportunity published on July 6, 2023, the CSA is providing funding via a Grant Agreement to the university to conduct their research using the JWST data.

This project will collect data with NIRISS and NIRSpec for 15 of the most promising water-world candidates. It will provide vital constraints on the existence of water worlds and will allow characterization of the chemical diversity of their atmospheres. The existence of water worlds has important implications for theories of planet formation, and they represent a new regime of atmospheric chemistry that has until now remained uncharted.

Following the JWST ERS and Cycle 2 GO Announcement of Opportunity published on July 6, 2023, the CSA is providing funding via a Grant Agreement to the university to conduct their research using the JWST data.

This project will observe a uniquely hot and dense sub-Neptune exoplanet, TOI-842b, in order to determine its structure and composition. The study will determine if the exoplanet is an exposed Neptune mantle, like Neptune that lacks the large H2 envelope, as well as determine the composition and thermal structure of its atmosphere. These results will obtain one of the deepest understandings of a sub-Neptune planet yet, as well as expand the understanding of sub-Neptune formation.