CSA bankrolls $19.5-M Mars mission weather station

The Canadian Space Agency has announced the final $6 million of a $19.5-million investment in the design and construction of a meteorological instrument destined for Mars. MDA Space Missions, Brampton ON, is the prime contractor for the fully integrated weather station, set for launch in 2007 as part of NASA’s Phoenix Lander Mission. Dubbed MET, it will study climate, the geological history of water and the potential of the soil to support life. The scientific team is being led by York Univ’s department of earth and space science and engineering. A key laser-based light-detecting and ranging “liddar” system is being provided by Optech Inc, Toronto....