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A successor to the Hubble Space Telescope, JWST will observe a wide range ofastronomical objects and collect data on the physical processes that control theformation and early evolution of galaxies, stars and planets. This information willimprove scientific understanding of the origin and history of the universe.Canada is contributing two important hardware components: the fine guidancesensor (FGS), which will enable highly accurate pointing of the telescope, and avery precise tuneable filter imager (TFI). The TFI will, in effect, be an additionalscientific instrument; it can, for example, help scientists to search for exoplanetsand first light. The instrument carrying both devices is being built by COM DEV inOttawa, Ontario.The Canadian science team is led by John Hutchings of the National ResearchCouncil’s Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics and by Rene Doyon of the Universitede Montreal. In return for Canada’s participation, not only will the sciencereceive guaranteed observing time on the telescope to conduct their research,but the observatory will be available to Canadian astronomers for 5% of theavailable time.ASTROSAT/UVITIn the spring of 2009, India plans to launch its first space telescope, ASTROSAT,which will be used to study celestial objects in the ultraviolet, visible and x-rayrange of the spectrum, including black holes, neutron stars, pulsars, whitedwarfs, quasars, active galactic nuclei, supernova remnants and galaxy clusters.In its first collaboration with the Indian Space Research Organization, CSA issupporting development of photon-counting detectors for ASTROSAT’s twoultraviolet imaging telescopes (UVIT).John Hutchings of the National Research Council’s Herzberg Institute ofAstrophysics leads a team of Canadian astronomers who collaborated incalibration the detectors and will share in the UVIT team’s ASTROSATguaranteed observing time. Astrosat will also be made available to Canadianastronomers through a competitive peered reviewed process during the satellite’sopen time. Routes Astroengineering of Ottawa built the devices and wasresponsible for their design, assembly, integration and testing for the UVITtelescopes.NEOSSatCanada is building the world’s first space telescope designed to detect and trackasteroids and satellites, providing a dramatic improvement in surveillance for16
objects that pose a collision hazard with Earth and unprecedented opportunitiesfor tracking objects in orbit high above our planet.Called NEOSSat (Near-Earth Object Space Surveillance Satellite), this missionwill build upon Canada’s expertise in compact, microsatellite design. The 65-kilogram spacecraft will be the size of a small suitcase and is cost-effectivebecause its small size and because it can be launched with other payloads.Although NEOSSat’s 15-centimetre telescope is relatively small, in orbitapproximately 700 km above the Earth’s atmosphere it will give it a hugeadvantage in searching the blackness of space for faint signs of movingasteroids. NEOSSAT’s launch is planned for 2010. The satellite will be operatedby the CSA. The mission is funded by Defence Research Development Canadaand the Canadian Space Agency.NEOSSat is the first follow up mission to the ground-breaking MOST. NEOSSatalso marks the first project using Canada’s Multi-Mission Microsatellite Bus.CSA’s Space Technology branch launched the multi-mission bus project tocapitalize on technology developed for the MOST project by making it applicableto future satellite missions.Hildebrand, holder of a Canada Research Chair in Planetary Science in theUniversity of Calgary’s Department of Geoscience, leads an international scienceteam for the NESS (Near Earth Space Surveillance) asteroid search mission ofNEOSSat.Solar-Terrestrial Studies & Atmospheric ScienceCanadian Geospace Monitoring Network (CGSM)The Canadian Space Agency recently issued nearly $10-million in new contractsfor scientific work using the Canadian Geospace Monitoring Network, anextensive series of ground-based stations used to observe geomagnetic space.CGSM includes several different kinds of instruments including all-sky imagersthat measure wavelengths of visible light; photometers that measure the intensityof light at different wavelengths, riometers that observe the cosmic backgroundradiation at radio wavelengths and magnetometers that measure the strength ofand variations in the Earth’s magnetic field.Also included in the instrument set are solar monitors that measure radio wavesemitted from the sun, and digital ionosondes and superDARN radars that sendout bursts of radio energy into the atmosphere and measure the reflections,providing information on the state of the ionosphere and the auroras.17
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Page 13: Future planetary missionsCanada is
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