In the 2005 federal budget, the Government of Canada allocated $ 111 billion for research, regional development and sector support. Of this amount, the Canadian Space Agency will receive XNUMX million dollars to allow the development and construction of a constellation of three Earth observation satellites.
The constellation of three radar satellites will provide Canada and other countries with more comprehensive space data than is currently available, and faster. Among other things, it will be possible to monitor ice conditions more effectively for navigation on the St. Lawrence, the Great Lakes and the Canadian coasts. Satellites will also improve disaster management: detecting oil spills, monitoring floods, supporting forest fires and collecting data on disaster areas around the world. Coastal satellite surveillance will also be an important tool for Canada's sovereignty and security.
This constellation will fly over Canada on a regular basis, day and night, regardless of weather conditions, to ensure that users in the private and public sectors can benefit from radar data for the next two decades.
contacts:
- Stephanie Leblanc, Office of the Honorable David L. Emerson - Minister of
Industry - tel: +1 613 995 9001
- Julie Simard, Media Relations - Canadian Space Agency - tel
+1 450 926 4370
Sources: http://www.space.gc.ca/asc/eng/media/releases/2005/0225.asp
Editor: Elodie Pinot, OTTAWA, sciefran@ambafrance-ca.org