Grants and Contributions

Earth observation using constellations of satellites is an emerging market that calls for improved building blocks to capture precise images of Earth's surface at lowest possible cost.

This project targets improvements on three key attributes of a spaceborne precision camera system. A new compact wide-field telescope will demonstrate reduced straylight contamination on the detector. Compact radiometric, spectral and flat fielding calibration unit will be demonstrated for operation in flight. Finally an active secondary mirror will demonstrate an ability to compensate for spacecraft pointing jitters or short duration tracking of ground targets. The results of this project will position Canada to offer low cost, mass production of compact, telescope fore-optics for Earth observation satellite constellations. They will contribute to the global effort by private sector aiming at offering new earth vision-derived digital services (natural disasters, improved farming and pollution control to name a few).

Monitoring global greenhouse gas emissions from space is an important part of the global efforts to curb emissions. Improving the spatial resolution of satellite-based GHG mapping will provide decision makers with more compelling data linked to single emitters.

This project will merge existing commercial Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) technology with innovative optics to dramatically increase the number of measurement point at every orbit while preserving industry leading sensitivity and accuracy. The ideas proposed herein were successfully tested on ground instrument but have yet to find functional implementation in the context of space use. This work targets the development of a sensor for GHGs (or other gases) mapping from orbit that could provide at least one order of magnitude improvement in the number of spatial elements observed at every orbit.

NSERC’s Experience Awards (previously Industrial Undergraduate Student Research Awards [IUSRA]) offer organizations access to talented natural sciences and engineering undergraduate students for a work term. This cost-shared program allows students to address organization-specific R&D challenges while gaining valuable industrial experience. Experience Awards also let organizations identify potential future full-time employees.

NSERC’s Experience Awards (previously Industrial Undergraduate Student Research Awards [IUSRA]) offer organizations access to talented natural sciences and engineering undergraduate students for a work term. This cost-shared program allows students to address organization-specific R&D challenges while gaining valuable industrial experience. Experience Awards also let organizations identify potential future full-time employees.

NSERC’s Experience Awards (previously Industrial Undergraduate Student Research Awards [IUSRA]) offer organizations access to talented natural sciences and engineering undergraduate students for a work term. This cost-shared program allows students to address organization-specific R&D challenges while gaining valuable industrial experience. Experience Awards also let organizations identify potential future full-time employees.

Directing intelligent efforts in the fight against climate change demands more and more accurate climate critical data.

Calibration blackbodies in infrared Earth observation instruments help ensure the accuracy of radiometric measurements, which can be used to reveal changes over time in our atmosphere and landscape. This project will evaluate and validate two new technologies that could greatly improve the radiometric accuracy of calibration blackbodies.

This project entitled «Next Generation Large Aperture Interferometer for GOSAT and CrIS» through various projects over the years, Canada has positioned itself favourably as a provider of optical solution for space-based Fourier Transform Spectroscopy (FTS) applications. Space FTS technology is considered to be a Canadian signature technology. The proposed project is titled: “Next Generation Large Aperture Interferometer for GOSAT and CrIS“. The goal is to offer a subsystem that enables improved signal to noise ratio with no degradation of spectral resolution in a smaller and more cost effective package than would otherwise be achieved with more traditional approaches. The proposed interferometer will be designed, breadboarded and tested in representative environmental conditions.

This project entitled «Prototyping of a compact hyperspectral imager» consists of designing and building a prototype of a small, simple hyperspectral imager providing a fine spatial resolution and offering a cost effective solution for satellite constellations. ABB Inc. will also make laboratory measurements of the prototype performance to confirm the hyperspectral imager design approach and validate the suitability and maturity of the underlying technologies.

This project entitled ""Multi-Spectral Imager for highly elliptical orbits and geostationary orbits"" will focus on advancing the design of a Canadian meteorological imager instrument and adapting it so that it can be compatible with future prospect satellite missions.