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rfmcdonaldangleManjy of you have probably heard about Obama's plans for space. I generally agree with commentators like Bad Astronomy's Phil Plait (see the previous link) who welcome the general direction of the plan, while perhaps disagree with the general details. (Me, I'm not sure that much could be learned from the Moon for Mars, given the very different environments of the two worlds.) On a CanCon angle, Canada may not get much from this.
The Canadian Space Agency certainly isn't one of the major space agencies of the world, with a tendency to participate in certain technological niches such as the Canadarm and no independent launch capability. There has been recent speculation that the CSA might build its own indigenous launch system, launching small satellites into orbit from sites on Nova Scotia's Cape Breton Island or the Arctic port of Churchill in northern Manitoba. This would fit into Canada's tradition of being a niche player in space, but it would also be a pretty significant break from Canada's historic position and depends on other space powers--China, say--not filling it.
"The president's announcement really doesn't define any role for Canada at all," Kevin Shortt, president of the Canadian Space Society, said Thursday from Toronto, shortly after Obama announced plans to send astronauts to Mars within his lifetime.
"It will have little effect on where Canada's going in in terms of space exploration. We have no long-term space plan. We have no vision. It's partly the fault of the Canadian Space Agency, but there's been little movement from the government on what our role should be. There's no government policy at all in terms of what we should be aiming for in space."
[. . .]
Nine Canadians have participated in 13 NASA manned missions, and Canada's newest astronauts - David Saint-Jacques and Jeremy Hansen - expressed optimism last summer at the Kennedy Space Center that they might one day walk on the moon. They were on hand to watch Julie Payette fly to space for a second time aboard a space shuttle.
But Shortt points out the NASA space missions have largely been payback for Canada's technological contributions, particularly the robotic device known as the Canadarm that's been an integral tool on space shuttles and on the International Space Station.
"The Canadarm is ongoing, but the bill has been paid," he said. "There's no reason now for U.S. to further ferry Canadians into orbit; we have no other major contributions in the works that would ensure further opportunities for Canadian astronauts to fly."
Another Canadian space expert was more optimistic, saying that exploring Mars could mean opportunities for Canada.
"If you have refuelling stations on Mars as part of your architecture, then robotics is going to be a huge part of that, so Canada's role could be amplified greatly," said space author Robert Godwin.
The Canadian Space Agency certainly isn't one of the major space agencies of the world, with a tendency to participate in certain technological niches such as the Canadarm and no independent launch capability. There has been recent speculation that the CSA might build its own indigenous launch system, launching small satellites into orbit from sites on Nova Scotia's Cape Breton Island or the Arctic port of Churchill in northern Manitoba. This would fit into Canada's tradition of being a niche player in space, but it would also be a pretty significant break from Canada's historic position and depends on other space powers--China, say--not filling it.
