Canadian Expertise Relevant to Exploration

1. Canadian Expertise Relevant to Exploration David Kendall Director General Space Science Program CAISU Workshop, CSA Headquarters, November 5th, 2004

2. Exploration at CSA • The Canadian Space Agency is currently developing expertise in both exploration science and technology • Planetary exploration science covers the traditional fields of research • Solid planetology (geology, geophysics) • Astrobiology • Planetary Atmospheres • Small bodies research

3. Exploration Technologies at CSA • Technology development in the following areas has been carried out and is ongoing: • Manipulator systems for planetary applications • Sub-surface sample acquisition and handling • LIDAR for planetary landing, orbital rendezvous, surface navigation, and science instrumentation • Communications strategies for planetary applications • Guidance, navigation, and control for planetary surface roving • Advanced life support systems

4. Canada and Phoenix • The current primary interests of the Canadian scientific community are in understanding the subsurface of Mars and the atmosphere of the planet • Canada is contributing a science instrument to the NASA 2007 Phoenix mission • The MET station will study the atmosphere of Mars from the landed platform using LIDAR, temperature and pressure sensors • Builds on Canadian expertise in LIDAR and provides the Canadian science community with their first access to the surface of Mars • Canada also contributed a Thermal Plasma Analyser to the Japanese Nozomi mission

5. Canadian-Partnered Mission to Mars • CSA is currently in the initial planning phase for providing a major element to a modest international scientific mission to Mars to be launched in 2011 • This mission will be: • Visible to the Canadian public • Science-driven • Technology-enabled • Complementary to international efforts in Mars exploration

6. Current Program • With current resources available at CSA, the most likely extent of Canadian participation in exploration activities will be limited to: • Phoenix 2007 • Small contributions to international missions (à la Phoenix) • Canadian-partnered Mars mission • Continued science and technology development on the ground

7. Augmented Program • An augmented program, that better responds to the challenge of sending humans to the moon and Mars, is of interest to CSA • However, this will require additional resources that are not currently baselined • There exists relevant Canadian expertise, and we would like to explore how to turn this into valuable contributions to the exploration effort • Participation in US and international milestone missions, with key niche areas for Canada, would exist in parallel with small Canadian-led scientific efforts

8. Extraction of Resources • Canada has world-class expertise in mining, space robotics, and geology • In-situ resource utilization is a science and technology joint activity that fits well with existing Canadian expertise as well as the priority scientific objectives • This includes tools and automation for assisting humans in resource extraction, drilling, prospecting, and exploring (including computing systems)

9. Space Robotics • Canada has built the only space robots used routinely in human spaceflight • Strong experience in space robotics operations through ISS program • Participation to many key missions involving on-orbit servicing and in-space rendezvous (XSS-11, Orbital Express, potential for Hubble repair mission)

10. Advanced Medical Systems • Telemedicine is a necessity for the Canadian population, as there are many remote communities without proper medical staff on-site • Canada has heritage in: • telecommunications • advanced computing, • medical sensors • spacecraft medical monitoring systems • spacesuits

11. Advanced Life Support Systems • Canada has the only large-scale growth chambers for growing plants at low pressures and varying atmospheric compositions • Expertise exists in incorporating higher plant chambers in an overall advanced, bioregenerative life support system • Currently contributing the higher plant chamber to ESA’s Melissa loop (a pilot plant for a closed-loop, bioregenerative life support system) • Research in this area is on-going

12. Terrestrial Analogues of Space Environments • Some Canadian laboratories and several sites in the Canadian Arctic are currently used as analogue sites • Augmented use of some of these sites will be required as we prepare for human exploration • CSA is interested in creating a network of analogue sites across the globe with partner agencies • Does not require augmented budget to CSA, can happen now • A very feasible, relatively low-cost, and concrete starting point for collaboration in human exploration between CSA and other space agencies partners

13. LIDAR for Exploration • Strong heritage exists in Canada with LIDAR systems. Current widespread terrestrial commercial use. • Space applications include: • High-precision landing • Topographical mapping from orbit • Orbital rendezvous and capture/docking • Surface navigation • Scientific instrumentation • A LIDAR will be flown on Phoenix as well as earth-orbiting demonstrations • Canada could be a supplier of choice for these sensors

14. Telecommunications • Canada has a long heritage in telecommunications by necessity, due to its geography • Canada supplied the initial criticality 1 communication system for ISS, and the antenna system on the Command and Service Module link to Earth for the Apollo program • Canadian research in this area will result in increased data rates using similar hardware • Contributions could be made to: • Long-range, Earth to Moon and Mars, radio and optical links • Surface communications systems • Communication links between surface and orbit • Internal spacecraft systems

15. Other Possibilities • Canada is in a position to contribute to other aspects of planetary exploration, however, as yet, these have not been pursued by virtue of the lack of resources (human and financial) • Possible areas include: • Rovers • Spacesuits • Medical diagnostic procedures (Canada is participating in the CMAS program) • Radiation dosimetry • Advanced warning of highly-energetic solar particle events (Canada is key partner in ILWS program) • Near-Earth Object hazard avoidance (Canada is planning on launching a dedicated spacecraft for this purpose) • Etc.

16. The Future • There are many other planetary exploration possibilities, besides Mars, to which Canadian scientific and technological involvement could be possible (e.g., Jupiter Icy Moons, Venus, Mercury, comets, asteroids, …..) • Canada does not lack ideas or interest, however, we do lack resources …..