Last week the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) outlined to industry, academia, and advocacy groups its vision of Canada’s role in future space exploration. The event was The Second Canadian Space Exploration Workshop held in Calgary, Alberta.
It now appears that the Canadian Government is determined to be recognized as a space player. The CSA has been newly manadated by the Canadian Government to develop space exploration activities. The CSA has seen its budget raised by C$430 million of new funds allocated over the next three years.
Canada has a long history of involvement in space and was the third nation into space with the highly succcesful satellite Alouette-1 which was launched in 1962. Recently Julie Payette was the first Canadian on the new International Space Station and Canada is participating in the Japanese Nozomi Mars mission.
The new budget, approved earlier this year, will see 13% allocated to space science. The increase in the space science budget will allow Canada to participate in more robotic missions. Already the CSA has had its associate membership in the European Space Agency renewed and is currently negotiating with NASA to participate in the Mars Sample Return mission slated to start in 2003.