CSA and TPC funding new multi-purpose satellite

MacDonald Dettwiler & Associates Ltd (MDA), Richmond BC, is the prime contractor for CASSIOPE, a new $140-million multi-purpose satellite scheduled for launch in 2007. Funding is being provided by the Canadian Space Agency ($63 million) and Technology Partnerships Canada ($77.2 million). CASSIOPE is designed to undertake a variety of missions for research in the areas of science and technology, earth observation, geological exploration and high-capacity information delivery. The inaugural launch will carry a suite of eight scientific instruments collectively called ePOP. The $10.3-million payload was developed by researchers at the Univ of Calgary. The mission will also initiate a new information delivery service called Cascade, facilitating the delivery of large amounts of information anywhere globally. It’s being billed as the world’s first commercial, space-based digital courier service. TPC’s funding includes $48.6 million for the Cascade service and $28.6 million for future operational missions. MDA will use funding from both CSA and TPC to develop the first generic small satellite bus manufacturing capability, reducing the size and weight of the satellite. It is part of the CSA’s Small Satellite Bus Development Program, which supported the development of two small science satellites launched last summer. Over the next 10 years, the CSA plans to launch several small and micro-satellites carrying a variety of payloads. FMI: www.space.gc.ca....