Grants and Contributions:

Agreement Number:

Agreement Value:

$499,983.00

Agreement Date:

Mar 18, 2016 -

Description:

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.

Organization:

Canadian Space Agency

Expected Results:

-Increased knowledge from research projects in priority space S&T areas (number of new and ongoing space science and technology initiatives and projects).
-Number of completed space science and technology initiatives (Announcement of Opportunity) and proj

Location:

Toronto, Ontario, CA

Reference Number:

003-2015-2016-Q4-02783

Agreement Type:

Grant

Report Type:

Grants and Contributions

Additional Information:

The amount allocated covers more than one fiscal year.

Recipient's Legal Name:

The Governing Council of the University of Toronto

Program:

Class Grant and Contribution Program to Support Research, Awareness and Learning in Space Science and Technology

Program Purpose:

This program supports knowledge development and innovation in the CSA's priority areas while increasing the awareness and participation of Canadians in space-related disciplines and activities.
The Research Component aims to support the development of science and technology; foster the continual development of a critical mass of researchers and highly qualified people in Canada; and support information gathering and space-related studies and research pertaining to Canadian Space Agency priorities.