Grants and Contributions:

Title:
Advancing SSA Data Processing Performance
Agreement Number:
25STDPX31
Agreement Value:
$995,062.00
Agreement Date:
Sep 3, 2025 - Aug 31, 2027
Description:
NorthStar will advance the critical capability to identify hundreds of thousands of unknown space objects by processing millions of space-based optical observations per day. Achieving this to commercial standards requires innovative adaptations of Initial Orbit Determination algorithms and massively parallel data processing pipeline methods configured in novel architectures. This project will adapt new Big Data methods to process unknown objects with a system that will scale appropriately as the NorthStar constellation expands, while still meeting latency and security requirements.
Organization:
Canadian Space Agency
Expected Results:

The Research component of the program provides financial support to organizations to conduct space related research and development in priority areas. It will support targeted knowledge development and innovation to sustain and enhance the Canadian capacity to use space to address national needs and priorities in the future.

Location:
Montreal, Quebec, CA H2Y 1S1
Reference Number:
003-2025-2026-Q2-00014
Agreement Type:
Contribution
Report Type:
Grants and Contributions
Recipient Type:
For-profit organization
Recipient's Legal Name:
NorthStar Earth & Space Inc.
Program:
STDP AO 9.1 Space R&D - Advanced Technologies
Program Purpose:

Canada's Innovation and Skills Plan is focused on three priority areas to spur innovation: People, Technologies, and Companies. Working with industry, the Government of Canada will encourage innovation by increasing its support for basic research and development (R&D) in space technology development. The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) is issuing this Announcement of Opportunity (AO) to support the development of Canadian industrial capabilities in the area of space technologies with the aim of increasing the commercial potential of Canadian space companies to capture global opportunities.

It is paramount that the Canadian space industry remains strong, healthy and relevant, and that it has the required readiness to respond to national demand and the necessary competitiveness to secure an increased share of commercial and institutional markets worldwide. Only through innovation and continued investments in R&D can Canada ensure that it has the industrial depth and breadth to remain a valued player in the international arena.

In light of the above, this AO concerning Space R&D – Advanced Technologies will award non-repayable contributions up to $1M per advanced space technology project that expect commercial potential in the short to medium term (i.e., two to five years).