Canada Drives the Design of Leading Space Technologies (Source: Normand Cadorette)

SPACE TECHNOLOGIES Canada Drives the Design Of Leading Space Technologies (Source: Normand Cadorette)

Honorable Maxime Bernier, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for the Canadian Space Agency, has Maxime Bernier, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible announced an investment of for the Canadian Space Agency. $10.3 million in 36 research and development contracts awarded to Canadian indus- lite communication compo- try for designing new space nents, and radar, and for mak- technologies and applications. ing groundbreaking tech- “Investments announced nologies market-ready. These are crucial for supporting are technologies that respond Canada’s leadership position to Canadian needs and those in niche markets such as ro- of our international partners,” botics, remote sensing, satel- says Bernier.

14 MADE IN CANADA NO. 0, 2007 Contracts were awarded sor types. Improved detection through the CSA’s Space Tech- Companies and classification is useful for nology Development Program a variety of applications in- (STDP). The 36 companies will Awarded Contracts cluding environmental moni- develop a range of innovative toring, natural resource man- space technologies, including: ABB Bomem chemical reactant. Improve- agement, agriculture, and mil- Compact Imaging ment of the in-situ pre-selec- itary/defence. • Guidance, navigation and Spectrometer - Phase 2 tion of significant exobiologi- control software to improve cal samples will extend the op- Blakemere Technologies the autonomy, safety, and ABB Bomem Inc. will validate erational lifetime of more so- Agile IP Layer Traffic reliability of space systems. the functionality and the per- phisticated systems. This very Control for DVB-RCS and formance of an extremely com- rugged instrument will require DVB-S2 • Refinements of a new satel- pact and lightweight interfer- low resources (mass, power, lite concept for sensing land ometer module when it is cou- volume) and can be integrated surface types, which can be with various mission concepts. Blakemere Technologies Inc. pled to a thermal infrared cam- will develop a bandwidth man- used for studying the envi- era. Project will address the ronment and monitoring Advantech Satellite agement device suitable for technology’s ability to acquire performing Layer 3 traffic con- natural resources. Networks spectral data cubes and to trol within DVB-RCS and DVB- maintain good wave front qual- Adaptive Coding and • Near instantaneous distress S2 based networks (digital ity in realistic application en- alerts to reduce Search and Modulation Satellite video broadcast—return chan- vironments. It will demonstrate Rescue response times, even Networks With nel satellite and second gener- suitability of the compact in- in the far North. Optimized Quality of ation digital video broadcast). terferometer for use in a Service Device will address aspects of • Feasibility study for an in- hyperspectral thermal imaging classifying traffic, partitioning spectrometer. strument that measures Advantech Satellite Networks bandwidth, and enforcing ser- water content of soil without will enable and enhance the vice level agreements, while MEMS-based touching it, which could be commercial application of the providing a configuration in- used for exploration of Mars Spectrometer for Water powerful adaptive coding and terface agile enough to ac- or other planets. Content and Chirality modulation techniques previ- commodate the use of ad- Measurement ously developed for enterprise vanced coding and modulation Investment in long-term space solutions. These were based on under DVB-S2. Device will sig- technology research and de- ABB will determine the feasi- the DVB-RCS (digital video nificantly reduce costs and im- velopment is key to the suc- bility of an instrument that si- broadcast—return channel prove capabilities for vendors cess of the Canadian space in- multaneously measures water satellite) two-way satellite stan- and integrators of any Internet- dustry in the next decade. This content and the presence of dard. Project will enable cer- over-satellite system, includ- support maintains a level play- chiral molecules in soil on Mars tain improvements in the cost ing systems based on DVB-RCS ing field, since other countries and other planets. This instru- effectiveness of such systems. using either DVB-S or DVB-S2. In invest heavily in their own ment will help in the prelimi- This endeavor is for develop- particular, the device will en- areas of industry expertise and nary analysis of possible bio- ing resource management tech- able the exploitation of band- technologies are evolving logical compounds on site with- niques that ensure quality of width efficiencies offered by quickly. out contact and without any service and service level agree- DVB-S2. ments in DVB-RCS networks em- ploying adaptive transmission Blue Sky Spectroscopy techniques. Data Processing Algorithms for Space- A.U.G. Signals based Imaging Fourier Novel Approach to Transform Spectrometers Fusion of Hyperspectral Features and Algorithms Blue Sky Spectroscopy Inc. will for Improved Detection develop and evaluate a novel and Classification mid-infrared hyper-spectral imaging spectrometer for re- A.U.G. Signals will develop an mote sensing applications. This advanced data-processing technology will provide a spec- technology for enhancing the tral window for Earth Obser- data quality of space-borne vation projects related to sensors. Hyperspectral imagery forestry, oceanography, mete- will be the focus of the inquiry, orology, geology, mineral ex- but the framework and ploration, resource manage- methodology of the research ment, and environmental mon- will be applicable to other sen- itoring.

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Bristol Aerospace functional building blocks to deploy ad- Compact Redundancy Switches Model Based Smallsat Autonomy vanced packaging techniques (which are for Flexible Payloads core components for future SAW-based Bristol will develop and demonstrate small processors) to better meet the needs of COM DEV will develop a novel topology satellite autonomy technologies in three transparent, regenerative, and flexible using highly miniaturized actuators com- targeted areas: on-board mission task multi-beam payload architectures in the bined with an optimized microwave circuit scheduling, on-board fault recovery, and next-generation payloads. This project will for a redundancy switch network. on-board sensor calibration. After low-fi- improve the mass and size, as well as cost Resulting networks will be simpler and delity simulation of the technologies, pre- and schedule, of existing product building more compact than existing products that ferred strategies will then progress to high- block functional elements. employ discrete components, potentially fidelity simulations with some actual hard- yielding a 60 percent mass reduction and ware using existing facilities modified to Advanced Test Capabilities for commensurate volume reduction. accommodate project-specific hardware. Multi Beam and GNSS Payloads and Subsystems High Power Wideband Switch COM DEV International Technology Development Advanced Radio Frequency Surface COM DEV plans to develop test capabilities Acoustic Wave-Based Electronic for subsystems and payloads for high per- COM DEV will develop a waveguide switch Modules formance navigation payloads and the that can be used anywhere in a commu- next generation of global navigation satel- nication satellite, improving satellite reli- COM DEV will develop advanced packag- lite system (GNSS) equipment. Once de- ability, enhancing radio frequency per- ing and processing techniques. These will veloped, these new capabilities will form formance, and also resulting in lower costs result in substantial mass, cost, and sched- a solid base for COM DEV to address the and reduced cycle time for the satellite ule reductions for future production mod- markets of the new generation GNSS and payload integrator. This technology can be ules. COM DEV will also develop four new communications satellites. used in the waveguide switches required for transmit switching networks.

Tuneable Filters for Flexible Payloads

COM DEV will develop the critical elements for a new class of microwave filter: one that is tuneable on-orbit, over center frequency and bandwidth, so that flexible payloads are possible for the next generation of communication satellites. This technology can be used for flexible payload satellites that would retain and ex- pand Canadian global market share, while providing the best possible technical solutions for next generation Canadian commercial, government, and military communications satellites.

14 MADE IN CANADA NO. 0, 2007 Verification of a Pointing Mirror ing commercial potential; and evaluating System for Ground Motion the potential for application of gallium ni- Compensation tride SSPAs for space applications. Where appropriate, the technology program will COM DEV will demonstrate a space-quali- leverage existing Canadian expertise in gal- fiable design of a pointing mirror system, lium nitride material and device technol- suitable for performing the ground mo- ogy. tion compensation for the Measurements of Pollution in the Troposphere (MOPITT- INO (National Optics Institute) 2) instrument. The MOPITT-2 program has Radiometric Packaging for Uncooled baselined such a mechanism, and the pro- Bolometric 512 x 3 Pixel IR FPA posed work will reduce the risk for this program and other future science missions. INO will design a radiometric package to be integrated with a 512 x 3 pixel mi- EION integrated power and attitude control sys- crobolometer focal plane array (FPA), sen- Adaptive Capacity Optimization for tem (IPACS). The work will be augmented sitive in the mid- and long-wave infrared Multiple Beam Satellite Systems by rotor-accelerated life cycle testing pro- part of the spectrum, which has been de- jects supported by Honeywell and the signed, fabricated and tested under a pre- EION Inc. will provide the world’s first in- Canadian Space Agency (CSA). vious CSA contract. Package will extend telligent optimization emulator for multi- significantly the application range for the ple spot-beam bandwidth management GAIN Microwave FPA to absolute temperature measurement with quality of service. With this technol- Evaluation of Gallium Nitride and radiometry. State-of-the-art combi- ogy, satellite communications operators Technology for Application in Single nation of the FPA and radiometric pack- can deliver advanced services centered on Stage Power Amplifiers (SSPAs) age will provide a unique combination of capacity planning and quality of service high performance, low cost, light weight, small size, and low power consumption without incurring large capital expenses. Overall objective of this program is to un- that’s ideal for the micro-/nano-satellite It will also introduce a significant differ- dertake a preliminary evaluation of current context. entiating technology to the satellite in- gallium nitride semiconductor technology dustry that will revolutionize spot-beam for potential application in monolithic mi- McGill University management. crowave integrated circuit (MMIC) high power amplifiers for space applications. Hypervelocity Launcher for EMS Technologies Canada Evaluation will be carried out through: Laboratory Testing of Orbital Debris MEOSAR Digital Beam-Forming characterizing devices representative of and Micrometeoroid Impact Antenna the current start-of-the-art; designing devices optimized for power applications and McGill University will develop a new tech- EMS SATCOM will design a highly sophis- characterization of test structures; study- nology for accelerating one-centimeter ticated, compact, digital beam forming, ing current status of technology; evaluat- objects to velocities in the 10-to-15-kilo- multi-faced active phased-array antenna for the MEOSAR system. This antenna will produce the large number of simultaneous tracking beams required to obtain data for accurately resolving beacon locations. It will also provide the ability to adaptively nullify sources of interference. MEOSAR system will radically reduce search and rescue response times by providing near instantaneous distress alerts globally, even in the far North.

Flywheel Energy Systems Mk5 Flywheel Rotor Accelerated Life Testing (Continuation)

Flywheel Energy Systems Inc. will evaluate the effects of cyclic fatigue and accumu- lated damage on a scale version of the Mk5 flywheel rotor. Three of these flywheel rotors will be delivered to Honeywell Engines, Systems and Services, which will use the flywheel rotors to build up three flywheel systems for a ground demonstration of an END

NO. 0, 2007 MADE IN CANADA 14 SPACE TECHNOLOGIES meter-per-second range, so the vulnera- only grapple highly specialized fixtures. Dimensional Intelligence (3Di) tracking al- bility of spacecraft structures to hyperve- Whether it is to service Earth orbiting satel- gorithms with Xiphos’ Q-Card. locity impact can be directly measured in lites, perform remote exploration, or pre- the laboratory. Canadian industries and pare the terrain for manned missions to the NGC Aerospace institutional laboratories involved in the Moon or Mars, there is always a need for FFSAT (Coupled Attitude and Orbit design, manufacture, and testing of space- an end effector that is more versatile than GNC Algorithms for Small Satellites craft and spacecraft components can uti- the current versions. It could grapple ob- in Formation) lize this technology. jects of different shapes and forms instead of specific grapple fixtures. This project The concept of satellites flying in close for- MDA will determine the configuration of a very mation is an emerging space technology SDR-based High-Speed Architecture flexible, underactuated robotic hand de- that has great potential for future scien- for Reconfigurable Payloads veloped at Université Laval (Laval Hand) tific and communication missions. NGC that will most likely be used in space mis- Aerospace Ltd will develop guidance, nav- MDA will build upon its existing software- sions and design it using space materials, igation, and control (GNC) algorithms for defined radio (SDR) capability to develop processes, margins, and reliabilities. autonomously performing the coupled at- a proof-of-concept for high-speed recon- titude/translation maneuvers on small figurable satellite receiver. This receiver MPB Communications satellites in a formation-flight mission in will be specifically developed to work with Integrated Miniature Instrument the most complex orbital environment, future missions incorporating reconfig- Suite for Planetary Explorers Using a that is, eccentric orbit with perturbations. urable payload technology, with the added High-sensitivity Binary-Coded Resulting GNC algorithms, mission-analy- advantage of working with a large num- Infrared Spectral Processor sis tools, and simulation tools will be in- ber of existing and planned payloads. tegrated into NGC’s existing formation- MPB Communications Inc. will develop a flight simulator to assess the feasibility On-Board Stereo Vision (OBSV) laboratory breadboard of an instrument and performance of future formation-flight suite for Mars lander or rover platforms. missions. Long-term goal is to validate these MDA will develop novel computer-vision Instrument suite could be interfaced with GNC techniques in orbit, on the European algorithms for estimating the pose of robotic drilling and sample handling equip- PROBA-3 mission. known satellites using their three-dimen- ment to provide onsite support analysis of sional models and images from stereo cam- the extracted samples (rock specimens eras. This project will change the current and/or soil) and some in-situ bore-hole operating mode of space vision systems analysis capability. from “acquire the pose once and track using previously computed pose” to “ac- Miniature FP/IOSPEC High- quire pose continuously.” It will also in- Resolution Integrated-Optic crease the reliability of system operations. Infrared Spectrometer for Planetary Atmospheric Studies In-Orbit Reconfigurable Antennas and Earth Observation MDA will identify and analyze a commer- cially and technically viable hybrid an- MPB Communications Inc. will prototype tenna configuration. MDA believes the an innovative spectrometer concept that completion of this development program combines the broadband spectral opera- will enable new business models and ap- tion of MPB’s patent-pending compact LOCOOS (Low-Cost Orbit plications, and will help maintain Canada’s IOSPEC IR guided-wave spectrometers with and Orientation State Estimation) leading role in the rapidly evolving mar- advanced, narrow-band tuneable Fabry- ket of broadband flexible satellite pay- Perot technologies. This will provide a With the trend towards smaller and cheap- loads. Other applications include emer- miniature, high-resolution spectrometer er satellites of the micro/nana/pico cate- gency response, national security, and geo- weighing under 2.5 kg for accommodation gory, there is also a trend to reduce the clusters. This capability will distinguish on a low-cost microsatellite platform. mass, volume, cost, and complexity of the MDA strategically and help maintain its on-board navigation system. NGC leading edge in antenna products. Neptec Design Group Aerospace Ltd. will develop intelligent and 3Di Hybrid Processing autonomous guidance, navigation, and Underactuated Versatile End control software for such applications. As Effector Neptec will address shortcomings of avail- improving the autonomy, safety, and re- able sensor technology for autonomous liability of space systems, while reducing Future plans of all space agencies around rendezvous and docking as part of a larg- costs, is part of the company’s mission, the world contain significant portions ded- er strategy towards developing smart sen- NGC will assess innovative techniques for icated to robotics. Current end effectors sor technology for a variety of space and autonomously determining the orbit and and designs (shuttle remote manipulator terrestrial applications. Project builds upon attitude of a spacecraft using only simple, system end effectors and latching end ef- CSA-funded TECSAS stereovision feasibili- low-cost, low-mass sensors such as those fectors, and special purpose dextrous ma- ty project, where the first attempt was that measure the magnetic field of the nipulator orbital tool changeout mecha- performed to combine Neptec’s Three Earth and the temperature of the space- nisms) are all very specialized units that can

14 MADE IN CANADA NO. 0, 2007 craft. Goal is to develop a highly reliable, Sensor Technology University of Toronto low-cost, low-mass, primary navigation Developing a Miniature Piezoelectric Refining the Concept of system for micro/nano/pico satellites Motor for Space Applications Combining Hyperspectral and Multi-angle Sensors for Land Sensor Technology Ltd. will develop inno- Surface Applications vative ultrasonic micro-motors for robotic end effectors to be used in space. University of Toronto will refine a current Company will review scientific and patent hyperspectral remote-sensing measure- literature to identify the most promising ment strategy by testing a system that ac- concepts, design a micro-motor and elec- quires hyperspectral signals in the nadir di- tronic system, fabricate hardware, and rection, but also measures in two addi- characterize prototype devices. tional directions in two spectral bands. System can be used as an additional fea- Telesat Canada ture to the proposed Hyperspectral Dynamic Traffic Management for Environmental and Resource Observer which could also be used in a back-up/de- Broadband Spot Beam Satellites (HERO) Mission or may be considered by graded mode aboard a larger, commercial other land observation missions for ac- satellite. Telesat Canada will assess algorithms and quiring vegetation structure information. protocols for managing traffic in advanced Such advanced technology may improve Northern Centre for Advanced on-board satellite and associated ground how biophysical and biochemical para- Technology (NORCAT) terminals and test their performance on meters of vegetation are derived. Drill Unit Superstructure and Rod software emulators, thereby reducing as- Handling System in Support of a sociated uncertainties prior to finalizing York University Class N or M (1.5- to 15-meter) designs for the next major Canadian satel- Slab Waveguide Spatial Heterodyne Subsurface Sampling Drill lite launch. The project is critical in de- Spectrometer veloping advanced spacecraft payloads NORCAT will advance drill superstructure, and hubless distributed intelligence ground York University, in collaboration with the drill rod handling, and autonomy towards segments. National Research Council Canada Institute a low mass and power efficient design that for Microstructural Sciences and COM DEV can be used for various planetary explo- International Ltd., will design and simulate ration scenarios. Project will further de- a detailed slab waveguide implementation velop critical components and subsystems of the Spatial Heterodyne Spectrometer in preparation for development and test- (SHS) technology, at the same wavelengths ing. as used in the Spatial Heterodyne Observations of Water (SHOW) instrument. Passat Slab waveguide technology will signifi- Pico-Second Compact Laser Emitter cantly simplify and reduce resource re- for Space Laser Induced Breakdown quirements of the SHOW instrument by etching the main spectrometer onto a Spectroscopy small, thin silicon wafer. END Passat will develop a pico-second laser source with an output power of 10 MW and pulse repetition rate of up to 100 Hz, and with low power consumption, weight, and volume. This laser is intended for future missions to Mars, the Moon, possible as- teroids, or to artificial space station-missions involving rovers with a light laser for induced breakdown spectroscopy.

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