CSA invests in 5 R&D projects with MPB Communications
November 24, 2009 - The Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Industry and the Minister responsible for the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), recently announced an investment of over $8 million in 26 research and development contracts to 16 organizations in Canada.
Of the 16 companies, MPB Communications has received the most number of research and development contracts.
Funds have been awarded to MPB Communications for the following five projects:
MEC Moon Dust Magneto-Electrostatic Carbon Nanotube NanoFiltration
This project will address the lunar dust mitigation needs of the LORE Lunar Origins and Resource Exploration science/payload for the JAXA Selene-2 landed lunar mission.
Miniature UV/VIS/NIR 2-D Imaging Spectrometer for Meteorology Atmospheric Science Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Monitoring
This project will provide a compact, highly-integrated UV/VIS/NIR 2-D imaging spectrometer suitable for operation in the Polar Communications and Weather (PCW) Molniya orbit environment with high reliability, Signal to Noise Ratio, and image quality to address the multiple needs for atmospheric science, core meteorology/NWP and hyperspectral missions.
Multi-Mission MicroNavigator Miniature Sensor Suite for Low-Cost Autonomous Spacecraft Navigation and Operations
The innovative integration MEMS/PBG microphotonic acceleration and rotation sensors with a Star microTracker and fiber-optic temperature sensors result in a data synergy enabling high-performance spacecraft autonomous navigation, pointing and operations to facilitate substantial Earth Observation and science in low-cost platforms.
Pioneering of Self-healing of Damage in Composites Caused by Space Debris
This project joins together the expertise of the three partners in one team MPBC (space, fiber optics self-healing), Concordia University (composites, self-healing) and McGill University (novel hypervelocity launcher) to develop innovative self-healing concepts mitigating the effects of debris impacts.
Versatile Low and High Temperature fiber Sensor for Improved Monitoring in Space Applications
This project will provide an innovative Fiber-Optic based sensor suite for space structures, capable of monitoring strain and temperature over a wide temperature range, such as can be detected on antenna reflecting surfaces (-170°C to +170°C), cryogenic fuel tanks (down to -220°C), and the nozzle (as high as 2000°C).