Space Agency, DND seek to launch rockets for Canada

[57Chevy]

Space Agency, DND seek to launch rockets for Canada
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Country has capability to send satellites to orbit: spokeswoman

Canada has the technological ability to build its own rocket to launch small satellites, a top priority for future research at the Defence Department and a capability also being studied at the Canadian Space Agency.

Canada now relies on other countries, such as the U.S., India and Russia, to launch its spacecraft into orbit, but both the Defence Department and the space agency are looking at the option of constructing a Canadian-made launcher.

DND’s science organization, Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) is examining what might be needed for a small rocket as well as different possible mission scenarios that could be undertaken.

In addition, a 2009 briefing package produced by the military’s Chief of Force Development noted that the development of a launcher for small satellites is a key focus area for DND’s future research and development.

The CSA is also studying the possibility and is co-operating with DRDC’s scientists.

“One option currently being evaluated relates to the development of an indigenous launch capability for certain classes of satellites,” Julie Simard, a spokeswoman for the Canadian Space Agency noted in an e-mail.

CSA has already done two studies on whether such a venture is possible. “Those studies concluded that, although challenging, developing a launch capability in Canada was technically feasible,” Simard noted. “At this time, further analysis are required to thoroughly assess the implication of undertaking this activity in Canada. Should these analysis prove favorable, funds would be sought to initiate this development.”

Kevin Shortt, president of the Canadian Space Society, said the idea of a made-in-Canada capability to launch satellites and other spacecraft into orbit has been talked about for decades. While others have argued that Canada doesn’t launch enough spacecraft to warrant such a capability, Shortt said he believes there is an opportunity to develop a niche market to sell launches for small satellites to other nations. Canada’s geographic location is ideal for particular launches such as for polar orbits, he added.

Shortt pointed out that sub-orbital launches used to take place at Churchill, Man., and that site could be used for orbital launches.

Canada’s Bristol Aerospace builds the Black Brant rocket that has been used for such sub-orbital flights. Over 800 Black Brants have been launched since 1962, when manufacture of the vehicle began, according to GlobalSecurity.org. NASA is one of the more frequent users of the rocket.

Shortt said there is still a reluctance in some areas of government about the development of a domestic launch capability, but that is not the situation at DND. “They’re very strong proponents of an indigenous launch capability,” Shortt added. “They want to have a launch capability that enables them to have control over where and when they launch (their satellites).”

DND has also focused on the development of smaller satellites, known as micro and nano-sats. Having a homegrown rocket to launch such spacecraft in the future appeals to the military, Shortt added.

DRDC has been involved in the development of micro-satellites for missions such as tracking objects in space or monitoring the movement of vessels heading toward Canada.

The Canadian Space Agency’s efforts on examining the development of a domestic launch capability focus on satellites of about 150-kilograms in weight.

In a previous interview, Robert Zee, who heads the University of Toronto’s space flight laboratory, said Canada is more than capable of building a rocket to put small spacecraft into orbit.

“As to whether it would have sufficient political backing to see it all the way through to completion, that’s another thing,” he explained. “There are some strong voices at CSA and also at Defence R and D Canada that are really interested in seeing it happen.”

CSA officials have said that a full-scale project to design and build a launcher could take between 10 and 12 years.
                      (Reproduced under the Fair Dealings provisions of the Copyright Act)

 

[PuckChaser]

Thank god. For the money we're spending on some satcom systems a month for data, we could have bought and paid for our own geosync satellite over Afghanistan by now. I know it'll be a few years away at least, but its good we're actually thinking to the future and could possibly make some money for this.

 

[a_majoor]

I attended a seminar in 2002 or 2003 by a company called "Canadian Arrow", which was working on a recreation of the A-4 (V-2) rocket as a means of winning the "X-prize" and boosting tourists into ballistic flights into space. At the seminar, the CEO, Geoff Sheerin, claimed that strapping several "Arrows" together in parallel would allow the launch of a small payload into orbit. He also said the company had made a presentation to DND on this idea.

Canada has some experience in building "microsatellites", one called "MOST" was a space telescope about the size and weight of a barracks box.

While "Canadian Arrow" seems to have fallen from the horizon, small launchers do exist and the sort of expertise that created MOST for about $10 million (a small sum in aerospace) could be recruited to build small satellite chassis on an assembly line basis. Single microsats or constellations of small, multi purpose satellites could be placed in orbit "on demand" to provide bandwidth, imaging or other tasks for troops on the ground. Launching from the East Coast would provide the ability to place satellites in high inclination orbits (or polar orbits), while using air launch vehicles like "Pegasus" would provide access for any orbital inclination needed.

This is an idea which is quite doable, and whose time has come.

 

[Sully]

We need our own satellites.

 

[Pieman]

Technology has reached a point where it would be technically and economically feasible for us to do. I personally have zero faith in DRDC to administer a program like this after seeing first hand how they operate. The Canadian Space Agency would need a ton of money pumped into it and would have to grow in size, is the government ready to expand this department to the required need? Questionable.  Would push for a privately run enterprise with government support, would have a better chance of success. IMHO

 

[FoverF]

CANADIAN ARMY TO BUILD GIANT MISSILES TO LAUNCH SPY SATELLITES OVER CANADA
Jan 5, 2011, Sarcastic Press

The Canadian military has requested billions of dollars from the Federal Government, fresh on the back of billions of dollars in cuts to social welfare programs, to bult new missiles of an unprecedented size. These rockets would be similar to those recently developed by Iran, and would be primarily used to put spy satellites and sophisticated eavesdropping equipment into space. The Staples Foundation, a Defence Watchdog Agency, points out that such rockets could "theoretically be armed with nuclear warheads", which would be a clear violation of international law prohibiting nuclear weapons from being placed in space. NDP spokesman Hippy McTalksalotofshite made repeated demands during question period, but received no reply from the PM as to why Canada is insisting on breaking these treaties.

The army claims that the new missiles would give them 'broad new capabilities', making them more powerful than ever before, with the ability to covertly watch much larger portions of the country than is currently possible, and to communicate with much less chance of being overheard.

Opposition MPs questioned the need for such capabilities, since the military will no longer need any combat capabilities once they withdraw from the occupation of Afghanistan. These questions pointed out that the government has recently received billions of dollars for a new fleet of tanks, 2 new JSS battleships, and requested funding for a $16 billion stealth bomber.

Caption: Below is a photo of an ugly person kicking a dog. This person supports the idea of the Canadian Army having space rockets.

 

[Navy_Blue]

Unfortunately our conservative friends, (who support our organization more than most) like smaller government.  They would be more likely to support a private company over expanding a government program like the Canadian Space Agency.  As early as 2006 NASA wanted a private launch pad in Cape Breton but axed the idea in 2008.  It makes sense that our country have the capability I think with the private investment being put into manned and unmanned space flight we should have our finger in the pot as well.  I see NASA taking a back seat in the next decade and some unexpected countries are going to surprise us and take the lead.

 

[Oldgateboatdriver]

They would be more likely to support a private company over expanding a government program like the Canadian Space Agency. 

That is already how the Space Agency works, for the most part.

While there is an Operations Department that mans the Radarsat ops centre and the ops centre for the Canadarm  and other Canadian robotics systems on the Intn'l Space Station, this last one being a "back-room" to the "back-room", the largest part of the Agency manages the contracts with the private companies that build all these pieces of equipment and the research centres various projects relating to space research.

Nothing wrong with that, especially since, where boosters are concerned, private companies could much more easily ramp-up or ramp-down production than the Agency, as the need for them varies from time to time.

In the end, a good booster program could likely be developed within the current framework with a small increase of contract management personnel at the Agency, combined with an increase in operations personnel for the supplementary control centres required and the bulk of the project physical work carried out by private industry. In any event, the CSA program would have to be expanded because their management of projects often means that they are the "funnel" between the government and the industry for payment of the projects costs. 

 

[GAP]

When I was up in Churchill in the early nineties there was a plan to reuse the Rocket Range, and it came up again a  few years later.....I wonder whatever became of that?

 

[Pieman]

In the end, a good booster program could likely be developed within the current framework with a small increase of contract management personnel at the Agency, combined with an increase in operations personnel for the supplementary control centers required and the bulk of the project physical work carried out by private industry.

This would still require a huge amount of money to get going. Just don't think our government has the drive to put in the resources really required. I could be wrong about that, but really don't see it happening.

I foresee support for a satellite launching company with as little government involvement as possible being the best way to go. If it has a chance to become a profitable venture launching satellites for other companies it might actually survive with less government support.  Government would be there to help start up and give it a push out the door. There might be enough drive within the government to let that happen.