Fwd: Canada releases space policy framework

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From: "Gary Johnson" <gjohnson144@comcast.net>
Date: February 10, 2014 10:37:06 AM CST
To: "Gary Johnson" <gjohnson144@comcast.net>
Subject: FW: Canada releases space policy framework

 

Canadian Space Agency

News release

Canadian Government Announces Canada's Plan for our Future in Space

Launching the next generation of Canada in space

February 7, 2014 - Ottawa, Ontario - Canadian Space Agency

Industry Minister James Moore and Canadian Space Agency (CSA) President Walter Natynczyk joined Canadian astronauts Jeremy Hansen and David Saint-Jacques today at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum in Ottawa to unveil the framework for Canada's future in Space. This framework will serve as a guide for Canada's strategic activities and future in space, ensuring a strong and commercially competitive space industry that will continue to inspire Canadians for years to come.

Canada's Space Policy Framework builds on the tremendous success of astronaut Chris Hadfield, who became the first ever Canadian to take command of the International Space Station (ISS).

This plan builds on that mission, with the aim of inspiring a future generation of Canadians interested in space. It is based on 5 principles for the future:

1. Canada First: our sovereignty, security and prosperity will be at the heart of Canada's activities in Space.
2. Using space to strengthen our economy: by supporting Canada's space industry to bring to market cutting-edge technologies that promote jobs and growth.
3. Working together globally: by partnering with other countries on major space projects like Canada's continued commitment to the ISS
4. Promoting Canadian innovation: by investing in proven Canadian strengths, like robotics in the Canadarm2 and optics in the development of the James Webb Space Telescope.
5. Inspiring Canadians: by building on our success and inspiring a future generation of Canadians interested in pursuing a career in space and its related disciplines.

Minister Moore also announced Canada's continued support in the James Webb Telescope project, the next-generation space observatory, and the most powerful space telescope ever. The government remains a proud partner in this ongoing international project. Canada's continued participation will benefit industry, the academic community, and all Canadians. The telescope will study every phase in the history of our Universe, ranging from the first luminous glows after the Big Bang, to the formation of solar systems capable of supporting life on planets like Earth, to the evolution of our own Solar System.

Quick facts

• During Chris Hadfield's mission in 2013, over 100 scientific experiments were conducted on the International Space Station, all while bringing to earth, through social media, the wonders of living and working in space.
• In 2012, the Canadian space sector generated total revenues of $3.327 billion to our economy.
• Canada's space industry employs some 8,000 highly skilled men and women.
• Over the last five years, total revenues generated by the Canadian space sector have increased by 19% or $533 million.
• Canada's Space Policy Framework is part of the Government's response to recommendations put forth in the Review of Aerospace and Space Programs and Policies, led by The Honourable David L. Emerson.

Quotes

"Canada's space industry is a major contributor to highly skilled jobs to our economy, and a great source of pride among all Canadians. This plan charts a course for our future in space by ensuring Canada remains a global leader in important areas of space technology and innovation. On the road to our 150^th birthday in 2017, we hope this plan will inspire the next generation of Canadian astronauts."

- Industry Minister James Moore

"A long-term strategic plan for Canada's space program is critical for our industry. In order to effectively invest in innovation, technology and product development, we rely heavily on knowing what the government's priorities for the space program are. We are very pleased that the government has released the Space Policy Framework, and we applaud Minister Moore and his colleagues for recognizing the importance of Canadian innovation and industry as we continue to build on our nation's proud heritage in space."

- Jim Quick, President and CEO of the Aerospace Industries Association of Canada

Related products

• Canada's Space Policy Framework

Associated Links

• Industry Minister James Moore Announces New Measures to Build on Canada's Proud History in Space
• Government of Canada's response to the Emerson report
• Reaching Higher: Canada's Interests and Future in Space (Emerson Report)

Contacts

Media Relations
Canadian Space Agency
Telephone: 450-926-4370
E-mail: media@asc-csa.gc.ca
Website: www.asc-csa.gc.ca

 

 

Industry Minister James Moore releases details of space policy

PETER RAKOBOWCHUK

OTTAWA — The Canadian Press

Friday, Feb. 07 2014, 8:02 PM EST

Last updated Friday, Feb. 07 2014, 8:09 PM EST

A framework that will serve as a guide for Canada's future in space is getting a mixed reception, with critics rapping the Conservative government over past budget cuts. Marc Garneau, a former astronaut and now a Liberal MP, says the real test is in the execution of the policy, which makes sovereignty and security its No. 1 priority.

Industry Minister James Moore unveiled the policy document on Friday, telling industry representatives and a group of local students the four other priorities are:

helping the space industry develop cutting-edge technology;

partnering with other countries on major projects;

promoting Canadian innovation;

and inspiring Canadians to pursue a career in space.

"The net benefit of all of this [policy] is that Canada will be stronger, more assertive and more prosperous and with a brighter future in space," Mr. Moore said.

Mr. Garneau called it a good framework, but said he'll wait and see whether "the grand words … are actually going to turn into something positive for Canada's space program."

"This is a winner for Canada," said Mr. Garneau, a former president of the Canadian Space Agency. "We just have to execute it, but that does mean more money and we'll see if the government puts it in.

"Let's remember last year, the government with its cost-cutting, cut the space agency's budget by 10 per cent – that's $30-million. We had to lay off people."

The agency's current annual budget is $260-million.

The NDP blasted Mr. Moore's announcement, saying that after nearly running the CSA into the ground with short-sighted budget cuts and sheer incompetence, the Conservatives are now trying to persuade Canadians that they're its biggest champions.

"They make a framework announcement that really doesn't have any teeth, and they want Canadians to get excited," NDP industry critic Chris Charlton said Friday.

"I think both Canadians and Canada's space program deserve better."

When a reporter asked Mr. Moore if there would be more money for the CSA, he would only say that Walt Natynczyk, the new head of the Canadian Space Agency, will get what he needs.

"Without a doubt, I'm certain Mr. Natynczyk will have the capacity and the financing to do his job," he said.

Mr. Moore noted that there were difficulties in the past with the former leadership at the agency. That was believed to be a reference to Steve MacLean, who quit a year ago.

The Industry Minister said there is now a new leadership, a new approach – and a new policy.

"The Canadian Space Agency, under Walt Natynczyk has, we think, plenty of money certainly to achieve its mandate," he added.

Jim Quick, CEO of the Aerospace Industries Association of Canada, welcomed the policy announcement.

"We've been asking for a very long time to have a long-term policy framework and a vision for space for Canada and this is where we are today," he told The Canadian Press.

Mr. Quick said the industry can now go back to the government every year to see how it's doing and remind it of the need for investment in space. He also noted that, in the past, there had to be lobbying for every project the government was interested in.

"Now we have a vision and now we have a plan … so this gets incorporated into the government's financial and economic plan," he said.

The association represents about 100 of Canada's aerospace companies, including MDA, builder of the Canadarm; Lockheed Martin Canada Inc.; Magellan Aerospace; and Telesat Canada.

Mr. Moore also reaffirmed Canada's continued support for the James Webb Space Telescope, which will eventually replace the Hubble telescope in space.

He announced that Canada will invest $17-million in the new telescope.

"The telescope's images will serve thousands of astronomers worldwide over the coming decades, including helping them to determine if there are other planets capable of supporting life," Mr. Moore said.

Mr. Natynczyk told reporters that James Webb is an $8-billion project, with the cost being shared among NASA, the European Space Agency and the CSA.

It's now expected to be launched in 2018.

Canada's space industry, which employs 8,000 people, generates revenues of $3.3-billion annually.

© Copyright 2014 The Globe and Mail Inc. All Rights Reserved.

 

Canada's space agency to take back seat to private sector

Industry Minister James Moore pledges $17M to help build 'most powerful space telescope ever'

By Trinh Theresa Do, CBC News Posted: Feb 07, 2014 10:55 AM ET Last Updated: Feb 07, 2014 1:45 PM ET

The Canadarm protrudes from U.S. space shuttle Endeavour, which is attached to the International Space Station, during a 2011 mission. Canada's space program took a giant leap on Friday, with new commitments from Ottawa. (HO-European Space Agency/NASA/The Canadian Press)

The Canadian government is repaving its path to the final frontier.

The Canadian space program is getting revamped to allow more partnerships between government, the private sector and various research bodies in the country, as well as continue to support major international projects and training for future astronauts. 

Canada is also pledging another $17 million to build the James Webb Space Telescope, set to launch in 2018 as the successor to the famed Hubble Space Telescope. The Canadian Space Agency dubs it to be the "most powerful space telescope ever."

The plans are outlined in a new policy framework announced by Industry Minister James Moore on Friday morning at the Canadian Aviation and Space Museum in Ottawa.

"As we approach Canada's 150th birthday in 2017, we want to continue to support a strong, competitive and innovative space sector that will be here with us for the long-term, making us proud," Moore said.

Joining him was the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) president and former chief of defence staff Walter Natynczyk, as well as Canadian astronauts Jeremy Hansen and David Saint-Jacques. 

'The hub' of Canada's space program

Aside from additional funding to the Webb telescope project, the government did not pledge any more money to the CSA, which means expansion of Canada's space program will involve more non-governmental players.

The new space policy framework will emphasize the work of the private sector to support space activities and pushes for co-operation with international partners "to pool data for mutual benefit and obtain services and technologies that would otherwise be unavailable."

A Canadian space advisory council will also be established, to be comprised of "stakeholders in the public and private space domain" and chaired by the CSA president.

Natynczyk said the agency is really only "the hub of the Canadian space program." He said there are more than 200 companies involved in space projects, 30 universities with space studies and 21 government departments whose mandates include contributing to space solutions. 

"And what's key here is this policy allows the space agency to enable all their success," Natynczyk said in a media scrum after the announcement.

"So it's not only the great astronauts like David and Jeremy, but it's also the great engineers that we have and those who are putting the projects together."

Canada's space industry employs about 8,000 people and contributes $3.33 billion to the economy each year. 

Future Chris Hadfields

The government is committing to continue Canada's astronaut program, to have Canadians aboard future space laboratories and research centres, leaving the door open for future Chris Hadfields. 

"He opened up our eyes and our minds to the possibilities of future exploration in space," Moore said of Canada's first commander of the International Space Station.

During Hadfield's mission in 2013, more than 100 scientific experiments were conducted on the ISS. 

Students from a local elementary school were on hand for the announcement. 

"You know, the first human being who will walk on Mars has probably already been born. It might be you. It might be one of your classmates," Moore said to the students.

"Yes, space is an industry for Canada, but it's also an adventure. An adventure of the intellect, an adventure of discovery." 

Space program still needs money: Garneau

Friday's announcement signals a renaissance for the CSA, which was hit by blistering budget cuts over the past few years. 

Liberal MP and former astronaut Marc Garneau said it is "a good framework" but the real test is the execution. 

"I will wait to see whether the grand words of this framework are going to turn into something positive for Canada's space program."

Garneau, who was also the CSA president, acknowledged the $17-million funding promise is a start, but noted that the space agency lost $30 million from its budget last year. 

"Fine words have to be backed up by actions and that involves money as well." 

The NDP had harsher words, saying that the Conservatives are "compromising middle-class jobs in this innovative sector."

"Thanks to Conservative ineptitude, important projects like the Radarsat Constellation Mission are late, over budget and jobs have been lost," said industry critic Chris Charlton in a statement.

In December, Moore said the government would reveal Canada's new space plan in 2014, in response to a report written by former cabinet minister David Emerson. The report criticized the country's space program and said the agency responsible had "floundered" for a decade.

With files from Susan Lunn

Copyright © CBC 2014