Grants and Contributions

Ground measurements in Canada in support of space weather research.

Space Environment Canada is a consortium bringing together the CARISMA, TREx-ASI, AUTUMN, AUGO, SWAN, AuroraX, AuroraMAX, and Aurora Watch projects. This is a ground-based network of magnetometers, multi-spectral ASIs, single beam hyper-spectral riometers, additional specialized optical, radio, and magnetic instruments, and very mature data dissemination systems. The network spans most of Canada, and captures multi-scale processes and structures with scale sizes ranging from kilometers to thousands of kilometers. This project is a collaboration between the University of Calgary, the University of Alberta and Athabasca University.

Our food technology is centered around a yeast strain that is specially adapted to the space environment (AstroYeast). The yeast acts as a chassis to produce the nutrients crew members will need for their long voyage to our celestial neighbours, combined with flavour molecules that enhance the dining experience. The production of these nutrients and flavour molecules is performed in an automated and optimized bioreactor system. The end product is a delicious and nutritious yeast spread which can be safely consumed.

The “Canada GOOSE” is a controlled environment plant growth chamber designed to push the boundaries of high-density crop production yielding a variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, and mushrooms complete with power and water supply. Exploiting uniquely Canadian controlled environment technology and expertise, this design innovates ways to achieve homogeneous conditions within a high-density production system. While meant to address the supply of fresh nutritious food for astronauts, the chamber could be installed in remote areas or harsh environments to improve food security around the world.

CANGrow is a novel modular polyculture indoor food production system that will enable long term space exploration. The CANGrow system incorporates novel technologies in order to offer the widest possible variety of foods with optimal yield. It grows a diversity of biologically efficient food products: strawberries, cherry tomatoes, two root vegetables, microgreens, four unique culinary herbs, mini-head lettuce, an algae superfood, and a mycelial meat substitute - “space bacon”. The technology has the potential to provide over 500kg of nutrient dense food annually.

The Cricket Rearing, Collection, and Transformation System (CRCTS) is designed to be a protein source for astronauts and humans in remote environments on Earth by growing and harvesting protein-rich crickets in a first-of-its-kind controlled environment. Starting with nothing but a few hundred eggs, the CRCTS can quickly support the growth of tens of thousands of crickets every month. The CRCTS uses advanced filters, UVC lamps, and vacuum systems to completely isolate the crickets from the human living environment, ensuring minimal contamination risk throughout all system operations.

The H.R. MacMillan Space Centre will develop Back to the Moon – a program that highlights moon exploration and Canadian scientific contributions to astronomy and space exploration. Goals of the program include providing youth, families, and educators hands-on experiences and engagement with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) through the context of space science. Back to the Moon will reach out to underserved and underrepresented youth and families through accessible and inclusive educational programs. It will also connect youth and educators with examples of diverse scientists in the space sector.

The project aims to create a classroom ready teacher resource for Grades six to eight Science & Technology teachers. The teacher resource will excite all learners to discover the social, economic and environmental impact of Canadian space technology and develop scientific and technological literacies through STEM experiences. Three interdisciplinary activities will be created to build student skills in engineering design, scientific research, scientific experimentation, and coding. The activities will engage students in scientific concepts in biology, chemistry, physics and earth & space sciences connected to the Ontario Science & Technology curriculum.

Applicants with a design for a remote healthcare technology concept were invited to apply to the Challenge. After competing in Stage 2 of the Challenge as a semi-finalist, the recipient was selected as a finalist for a $350,000 cash prize.

Everyone is familiar with beautiful images from the Hubble Space Telescope, but each of those covers only any part of the sky. The Euclid satellite, scheduled for launch in 2023, will make images of similar quality to those from Hubble, but over about half of the entire sky. This will enable Euclid to investigate the nature of the dark energy and dark mater, as well as to understand how galaxies evolve through the history of the Universe.

This project will enable Euclid's goals and Legacy products by combining with space-based data available at longer wavelengths.