Canadian Space Agency
Achievements and Contributions
of our Northern Neighbors
CSA Timeline
Origins:
The Topside Sounder Project
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Originally an
outgrowth of military
rocketry and satellite
research.
Project S-27 the
“Topside Sounder”
project culminated in
the joint launch of
Allouette 1 by Canada
and NASA.
Source: FriendsofCRC.CA
With the success of Allouette 1
Canada became the third nation to
put a satellite in space. Today the
Allouette 1 satellite is inactive, but
still in orbit and is expected to
continue orbiting for another
millennium.
ISIS (International Satellites for
Ionospheric Studies)

Along with Allouette 2,
ISIS 1 and 2 studied
the ionosphere and its
role in radio
transmission.
Source: asc-csa.gc.ca

An additional satellite,
ISIS 3, was
abandoned in favor of
telecommunications
satellites.
Source: Niwa.co.nz
Anik Telecommunications Satellites
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The Anik A satellites
made Canada the first
country to possess a
nationwide geostationary
communications network.
While Satellite design
has evolved, the Anik
program endured from
1972 to 2007 with many
newer satellites still
functional.
Source: ewh.ieee.org
Source: asc-csa.gc.ca
Early model Anik
satellite
Late model Anik
satellite
Canada's Farthest Reaching
Contribution?
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Canadarm was
designed for use on
the Space Shuttle for
heavy payloads.
Canadarm's controls
adjust the position of
the end effector
instead of individual
joints.
Payload capacity was
7,260 lbs (3293 kg).
Source: Wikipedia
Canadarm 2
(Mobile Servicing System)

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A second model,
Canadarm 2, was
installed on the ISS to
assist in assembling
the station.
The passage of
components from the
shuttle's arm to the
space station's arm
came to be known as
the “Canadian
handshake”
▲Source: wikipedia
▼Source: Nasa
Canadarm gets a Promotion


For Discovery's return to
flight mission in 2005
Canadarm was
equipped with the
Orbiter Boom Sensor
System (OBSS).
The OBSS inspects the
shuttle's heat shield for
damage prior to re-entry.
This inspection was
mandatory for every
mission since 2005.
Source: CBC News
The OBSS acts as an extension of
Canadarm and is built with many
of the same parts.
Dextre:
The Canada Hand
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Dextre is mounted to
Canadarm 2 to
perform maintenance,
inspection, and cargo
handling tasks.
Dextre can be
controlled by
operators on earth,
performing additional
duties while the ISS
crew sleeps.
Source: National Geographic
Dextre provides Canadarm 2 with two
finger-like extensions and a
number of sensors and
interchangeable tools.
Canadarm Inspires Friends.
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The Japanese
experimental module
(JEM) is equipped
with the Remote
Manipulator System
(RMS).
▲The RMS arm on the Japanese module Source: iss.jaxa.jp
A European Robotic
Arm (ERA) will soon
be mounted to the
European module of
the ISS.
▼ ERA awaits launch. Source: spaceinimages.esa.int