Departmental Plan 2021-22

Result 1—Space research and development advance science and technology

Through advancements in science and technology resulting from research and development in the space sector, the CSA enables the first steps in the continuum of change that will result in socio-economic benefits for Canadians.

In addition to providing continuing critical robotic operations on the International Space Station (ISS) with Canadarm2 and Dextre, in 2021–22 the CSA will provide opportunities for industry and academia to perform studies and technology development that will help define options for Canada's participation in international human exploration initiatives beyond low Earth orbit.

The Canadarm3 Phase A contract was announced in December 2020 and signals the beginning of the development of this highly complex project. This initial contract with the selected Canadian prime contractor will set out both the Canadarm3 technical definition and value proposition that will be applied during the subsequent development phases. This will help maximize the economic impact of this investment under the framework of the Industrial and Technological Benefits Policy, which aims at leveraging federal procurement contracts to support job creation, innovation and economic opportunities across the country. The Canadarm3 will continue to build on technologies developed and proven on the ISS. This next-generation smart robotic system is built for the future. Not only will it be instrumental in operation and maintenance of the Gateway station itself, it will also open the door for Canadian science and research on and around the Moon and eventually extend humanity's reach outward to Mars and beyond. In parallel, forward work on the Gateway External Robotic Interfaces (GERI), initiated last year with a definition phase, will be approved early in 2021–22. This project will deliver the base points for Canada's robotics on early Gateway modules and for partners' payloads to be handled by Canadarm3. The technical statement of work for the subsequent phases (covering the detailed definition through development phases of the interfaces, and their delivery) of GERI have been assembled, and negotiation with the contractor is ongoing. With this contract in place early in 2021–22, industry will enable and assure Canada is meeting its commitments with the subsequent eventual contribution of Canadarm3, which relies on these interfaces being prepositioned on the Gateway.

These interfaces are critical elements of the robotic system that will be mounted on the various modules of the Gateway, allowing the Canadarm3 to "walk" along the Gateway and position itself to capture and berth approaching vehicles, move objects around, reconfigure station modules or support crew during space walks. In return for our participation in Gateway, NASA has committed to fly two Canadian astronauts to deep space, including one on the Artemis II mission, making a Canadian the first international partner to fly to the Moon. Canada will also have access to science opportunities in deep space, all the while demonstrating the technologies and capabilities required for the eventual human exploration of Mars. In 2021–22, the CSA will also prepare a proposal for the continuation of Canada's participation in the ISS beyond 2024, to support operations, science, commercialization and Canadian astronaut flights to this unique international laboratory.

In 2021–22, the CSA will also continue the development of the Quantum Encryption and Science Satellite (QEYSSat). QEYSSat is a communication demonstration mission for secure encryption key distribution which will allow the demonstration of distributing quantum keys over long distances using newly developed Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) technology through a laser link. The launch is currently planned toward the end of 2022.

With the aim of providing new space-based solutions to monitor the Earth and respond to global challenges, the CSA will advance the technology readiness levels (TRL) of several instruments, culminating in large-scale demonstrations on various platforms. Some examples of this include a demonstration model for the imaging Fourier Transform Spectrometer to be used for a proposed Arctic Observational Mission (AOM); and the undertaking of the High-Altitude Aerosols, Water Vapor and Ice Clouds Campaigns (HAWC) initiative to demonstrate measurement capabilities of three innovative instruments being considered for contribution to NASA's A-CCP climate-weather-air quality observing mission.

In 2021–22, the CSA will launch the next wave of the Space Technology Development Program (STDP) investments in promising technologies to advance science and technology. These investments will lead to the development of new cutting-edge space technologies for the future and ensure Canada remains a leading space faring nation. They will also support Canada's Business Expenditures on Research and Development (BERD) in the space sector, which is expected to reach $324M in 2021–22.

From a space science perspective, the CSA's investments in space astronomy and planetary exploration missions will provide opportunities for Canadian scientists to participate in international space missions and gain access to scientific data.

The James Webb Space Telescope launch is planned for October 31, 2021, a major milestone for Canada's space astronomy program. Canadian astronomers will have the right to use 5% of the observation time on one of the most sophisticated observatories of all times. In addition, Canadian astronomers will be allowed to compete for observation time on Japan's XRISM mission, which is scheduled for launch in February 2022. With regards to planetary exploration, OSIRIS-REx is on its way back from asteroid Bennu with precious samples on board, of which 4% will come to Canada. At the same time, the CSA will continue the support for the Alpha-Particle X-ray Spectrometer on NASA's highly successful Curiosity rover on the surface of Mars.

In 2021–22, the CSA will also support the advancement of Earth science and contribute to the understanding of climate change through the ongoing support of the SCISAT mission. Since it was launched in 2003, SCISAT data has been used by over 1,600 researchers in over 35 countries, resulting in 547 journal articles and 53 scientific discoveries.

In 2021–22, the SCISAT mission will publish a new dataset which will also include all major Greenhouse gases. SCISAT datasets advance Earth system science, our understanding of carbon in the atmosphere, and are major Canadian contributions to monitoring the ozone layer (United Nations Montreal Protocol) and maintaining space-based climate surveillance efforts. In addition, the CSA will prepare a new study to determine the best approach for Canada to continue monitoring the atmosphere and ensure data continuity of SCISAT.

By providing access to high-quality scientific data and supporting researchers, the CSA will contribute to science excellence and help maintain Canada's international ranking among Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) nations with respect to the average relative citation score of space-related publications.

Result 2—Canadians engage with space

Space provides a unique playground to capture the hearts and minds of the next generation of Canadian innovators. By taking advantage of Canadians' interest in space and by providing opportunities for youth to acquire the skills to pursue studies and careers in STEM, the CSA will support the development of the next generation of space scientists and engineers.

Through its Junior Astronauts campaign, the CSA successfully engaged over 58,000 youth in every province and territory of Canada until the COVID-19 pandemic forced school closures and travel restrictions. Selected participating schools and youth organizations from across Canada received a virtual visit from an astronaut during the 2020–21 school year. In summer 2021, the Junior Astronauts campaign culminates with selected youth in grades 6 to 9 from across Canada taking part in Junior Astronauts Camp activities remotely, with CSA astronauts, scientists, and engineers.

In 2021–22, the CSA will continue to implement the Canadian CubeSat Project (CCP). The CCP supports 15 Canadian teams, from across the country, made up of post-secondary professors and their students that are participating in the development of real space missions. In 2021-22, the satellites will be tested to validate if they can make it through the rigors of a launch to space.

In 2021–22, the CSA's stratospheric balloon program, STRATOS, will provide Canadian academia and industry with the opportunity to test and validate new technologies and perform scientific experiments in a near-space environment, while inspiring and training the next generation of experts. A large stratospheric balloon launch campaign will be held in Sweden and small expandable balloon flights will be conducted in Canada. At the same time, as part of the STRATOS program, the CSA-CNES (Centre national d'études spatiales) collaboration agreement will be negotiated and renewed.

Through the Science, Technology and Expertise Development in Academia (STEDiA), the CSA will continue to support academic research projects that advance scientific knowledge in the space field and develop innovative space technologies while contributing to the training of the new generation of scientists and engineers. The next wave of investments will be launched in the second half of 2021–22. As part of its commitment to support the development of the next generation of space professionals in Canada and to foster future international collaboration with other countries, the CSA will continue to support internships and conferences dedicated to students and young professionals.

The CSA uses social media engagements as an indicator of interest in Canada's Space Program. It is expected that the CSA's social media platforms will generate approximately 2 million engagements on social media in 2020–21. It is also expected that 1,090 new people and organizations will enter space-related fields as a result of CSA funding.

Result 3—Space information and technologies improve the lives of Canadians

Access to space data and technology is a game changer for many domains here on Earth. Every day, Canadian and international satellites provide information and services to support maritime surveillance, space surveillance, ecosystems monitoring, environmental monitoring, natural disaster management, security and defence, as well as health. The CSA supports other government departments and agencies in the delivery of their mandates by providing access to space data, information, and services and encourages the development of space technologies that have the potential for use on Earth or re-use in space.

In 2021–22, of the CSA will continue to operate the RADARSAT Constellation Mission (RCM) in order to meet the mission requirements for Government of Canada users, industry, academia and foreign partners. The CSA will also continue to work with government departments, regulatory organizations, and the user communities to increase RCM data access and to augment RCM data services to Canadians through the vetting process. Greater access to this data will allow more value-added companies to develop applications and services for Canadians, fostering research and discoveries from academic institutions and strengthening international collaboration. With this in mind, and in line with the Open Government Directive, the CSA plans to progressively increase the RADARSAT-1 data archives with the repatriation of International archives and data processing over the next few years. Also, in order to complement RCM data, the CSA will continue to support government departments by providing RADARSAT-2 (R2) data and processing services, taking full advantage of the 12 years of R2 archived data, and providing data from both R2 and RCM for the International Charter on Space and Major Disasters.

In addition to this, the CSA will continue to work with partners on WildFireSat, an innovative type of infrared sensor to monitor active wildfires. The CSA will also initiate early research and development on key Earth observation (EO) technologies on successor solutions to the RCM.

In 2021–22 the CSA will continue to support innovative solutions derived from satellite data through smartEarth, its application development funding initiative. Building on a series of investments, the smartEarth initiative will foster an intelligent use of satellite data to develop solutions to key challenges on Earth and in our everyday lives. One activity of particular interest over the next three years is a collaboration with Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Transport Canada to explore and develop innovative solutions in which satellite data can be used to contribute to the protection and environmental management of North Atlantic Right Whales in Canadian waters. At the same time, as part of its response to the growing crisis of climate change, smartEarth extended its support to 10 projects led by the Canadian EO Industry, in close partnership with federal departments and agencies as well as academia, under the theme Climate Change Impacts and Ecosystem Resilience, and the results will be delivered in Q3 of 2021–22. New smartEarth investments, with the objective of developing innovative solutions using space-based data to address challenges outlined in the SBEO Engagement paper as well as the 17 sustainable development goals in Canada's national strategy to respond to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, are also planned to begin in 2021–22.

Now that Canada has completed and delivered its contribution to the Surface Water Ocean Topography (SWOT) hydrological science satellite, the CSA is focusing on the use of the data to be generated once it is launched in February 2022. The data, in combination with oceanographic and hydrological models, should lead to improvements in coastal and water-related services in Canada, such as forecasts of currents, storm surges, and floods. This preparatory work is being performed by scientists at Fisheries and Oceans Canada, ECCC, and several Canadian universities, with science partners in the United States of America and in France. The research is being done for multiple sites across Canada including: Atlantic waters off the coast of Newfoundland; the St. Lawrence River; lakes and rivers in Quebec, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Alberta and the Northwest Territories; and Pacific waters off the coast of British Columbia.

With the objective of contributing to the safety and security of Canadians, the CSA plans to support new Sun-Earth system science activities to analyze data from space platforms in order to develop new knowledge and improve predictive models of the Earth System and of the Earth's geospace, the region of near-Earth space comprised of the thermosphere, ionosphere, and magnetosphere. In 2021–22, the CSA will also continue to maintain space situational awareness in support of satellite operations and contribute to the sustainability of the space environment. To this end, the CSA will continue to operate and maintain its space debris Conjunction Risk Assessment and Mitigation System (CRAMS), providing advanced analyses and collision avoidance strategies for close approaches with Canadian satellites, as well as international and national missions, for which the CSA has established partnerships. In addition, the CSA will continue to operate the Near-Earth Orbit Surveillance Satellite (NEOSSat), providing Canada with a dual-use orbiting platform for advanced research, tracking, and characterization of objects orbiting earth, including satellites, space debris and asteroids, and will provide Canadian astronomers with observation time on this unique platform in 2021–22 through the NEOSSat Guest Observer program, enabling scientific research in areas such as near-Earth asteroids, comets, and exoplanets.

In 2021–22, it is expected that 100 services dependent on CSA information will be offered to Canadians by the various federal departments and agencies using space data to deliver on their mandates.The services are varied and touch many different fields, such as agriculture, land use, climate, atmosphere and oceans and inland waters, amongst others. Some examples of these services include forecasting crop yields and assessing agricultural growth conditions, algae bloom detection, monitoring forest resources and assessing forest types, mapping and monitoring permafrost and assessing climate change risks for Canadians.

Canada is committed to remaining a leading space-faring nation, as noted in the Canadian Space Strategy. As a result, the CSA continues to meet its obligations to operate Canadian robotics and to support science on the ISS aimed at reducing health risks for astronauts during long-term missions. A number of scientific experiments will be conducted on the ISS in 2021–22 including: Vection, Wayfinding and Vascular Aging, which will study neurological, ocular and cardiovascular risks. Furthermore, science opportunities will be offered to perform research on space health risks, through data and sample mining, research models in laboratory, and spaceflight analogue environments, in order to complement studies performed on ISS.

The CSA will also complete the definition phases for a new astronaut health protocol aimed at mitigating the effects of spaceflight on the human body, which could translate into guidelines for analogous sedentary conditions for people on Earth. The CSA will work with partners to launch collaborative research and development initiatives with the health and biomedical sector, and to undertake the planning of a demonstration site in a remote Northern and Indigenous community, where early proof-of-concepts of health care solutions could be conducted, both for human spaceflight and isolated communities. The CSA will also launch, in collaboration with NASA and the Privy Council Office, a Deep Space Food Challenge designed to help bring innovative food production technologies to space and here on Earth.

In 2021–22, it is expected that 20 technological spin-offs resulting from the CSA's past investments will benefit Canadians.

Result 4—Canada's investments in space benefit the Canadian economy

In line with the Innovation and Skills Plan, in 2021–22, the CSA will continue to foster innovation in the space sector and enable Canadian innovators and entrepreneurs to take advantage of growth opportunities that create well-paying jobs and strengthen the Canadian economy.

Through the STDP funding initiative, the CSA will launch other waves of investments to support the development of space exploration and EO-related technologies needed for future space missions and improve the commercial potential of innovative ones. Through LEAP, the CSA will help small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) develop new technologies to be used and tested in lunar orbit and on the Moon's surface in fields such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and health. This will help Canadian enterprises, including SMEs, to capture their market share of the developing lunar economy.

In 2021–22, the CSA will start the definition phase for the first Canadian rover to ever drive on the surface of the Moon as a part of LEAP and will award grants to universities to foster excellence in lunar science and to form networks. The CSA will also continue supporting industry through contributions to help them insert themselves in the supply chain of lunar spacecraft providers and to enable first-time demonstrations of Canadian technologies on or around the Moon.

The CSA will also support phase 2 of its first Innovative Solutions Canada (ISC)'s challenge (i.e., development of prototypes) which focused on applying artificial intelligence and big-data analytics to space-related technologies and applications. The second ISC challenge, which will focus on space exploration-related technologies, will also be launched.

Through the smartEarth initiative's Enabler track, two funding activities are in place to increase the commercial and export potential for Canadian space-based applications. The first activity is Bridging the Information Gap with Space-Based Analytics, which will lead to the funding of up to 16 Canadian companies to develop new disruptive applications with EO data. The second activity is the Canadian Downstream Space Sector Delivering on Canada's Better Future, which will provide contributions for the development of innovative space-based solutions by Canada's downstream industrial sector (data exploitation and application products, systems and services) to address complex global transformations, such as technological revolutions, climate change, and environmental degradation. Due to the COVID-19 crisis, a significant number of downstream organizations are struggling, particularly SMEs that constitute the bulk of commercial actors in the space industry. One of these activities is aimed at helping the sector capitalize on the data revolution, developing the necessary capabilities to better adapt to the current transformations in the digital marketplace, while the other aims to stimulate capacity development, answering national sustainable development challenges and priorities. These activities will ensure Canadian downstream sector growth, positioning, and competitiveness, which will help to secure and maintain highly qualified personnel in the space sector.

The CSA will continue to support the competitiveness and capacity of the Canadian space sector on the international market through the long-standing Cooperation Agreement between Canada and the European Space Agency (ESA). Investments in selected ESA programs will allow Canadian industry to participate in world-class missions in Earth observation, satellite communications, exploration, and technology development areas. The David Florida Laboratory's (DFL) world-class testing facilities and services will also support the Canadian space sector for Assembly, Integration, and Testing.

The CSA's investments seek to ensure that the Canadian space sector develops value-added services and ensures that the value of Canada's space sector exports is maintained. As such, in 2021–22, it is expected that the CSA investments will contribute to the Canadian space sector's $2.1B in exports and maintain 4,250 highly qualified jobs in Canada.