Creating Space Opportunities for Canadian Industry
Canada-European Space Agency Partnership Announced at IAC
A Canadian company has been selected as the prime contractor for the European Space Agency's (ESA) HydRON-DS mission. The announcement was made by Canadian Space Agency (CSA) President Lisa Campbell last week at the 2024 International Astronautical Congress (IAC) that Toronto-based Kepler Communications Inc. was awarded the contract.
"For Canadian companies, having this unique access to the European space market means commercialization prospects and concrete sales, job creation and knowledge-sharing, and international partnership opportunities."
Lisa Campbell, CSA
Consisting of a ring of 10 satellites around Earth, HydRON-DS will use laser communications to provide high-performance Internet in space at unprecedented speeds for government and commercial users. This opportunity has been made possible thanks to Canada's long-standing and fruitful partnership with ESA, that allows Canadian companies from the space sector to leverage their expertise and skills on the European market. Since 1979, Canada has held the privileged position of being the only non-European cooperating state of ESA.
President Campbell also highlighted other concrete outcomes of this agreement for Canadian companies, such as:
Sherbrooke-based SBQuantum will assess the viability of its quantum diamond magnetometer in space. ESA will evaluate both the reliability and precision of the sensor, and explore its potential deployment on satellites for various purposes, like assisting in the monitoring of magnetic storms or mapping minerals under the surface of the Moon.
C-CORE, based in St. John's, Newfoundland, will design and build a calibration transponder for the Biomass mission, which will deliver crucial information about the state of the world's forests and how they are changing, and further our knowledge of the role forests play in the carbon cycle.
Québec-based ABB Analytical Business Unit in Canada will provide the Laser Unit for the interferometer of the Forum mission, ESA's ninth Earth Explorer satellite mission. Data from the mission will be used to evaluate the role that the far-infrared part of the electromagnetic spectrum plays in shaping our climate.
"Canada's continued participation in European Space Agency programs will further position our space sector for significant growth, generating highly skilled employment, and providing essential opportunities to access European markets," said The Honorable François-Philippe Champagne, Canada's Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry. "This collaboration allows us to engage in international space missions, while ensuring Canada's space industry remains innovative, vibrant, and competitive in the fast-evolving global landscape."
"For 45 years now, Canada's collaboration with ESA has resulted in opportunities to participate in European space program projects that would otherwise be out of reach. For Canadian companies, having this unique access to the European space market means commercialization prospects and concrete sales, job creation and knowledge-sharing, and international partnership opportunities," Campbell said. "We look forward to continuing this partnership to further strengthen the synergies between our industrial, academic and government sectors as we advance space science and technology together."