The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) announced today that is has been accepted as a full member of the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC). The committee is a forum for the coordination of activities related to the issues of man-made and natural debris in space.
Canada’s full membership comes at a time when Canada is increasing its role in monitoring objects in space including the military’s first dedicated satellite, Sapphire, which is scheduled to launch in the first half of 2011. As well, MDA is under contract to the Canadian Space Agency to develop the Next Generation Canadarm whose mission could include on-orbit servicing of spacecraft and satellites which might have been damaged by debris. Currently MDA is only developing ground prototypes to start.
The Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee exchange information on space debris research activities between member space agencies, facilitate opportunities for cooperation in space debris research, review the progress of ongoing cooperative activities, and identify debris mitigation options. According to the CSA being a member of this committee will provide the CSA with access to the latest research and activities related to space debris issues by the international members of the committee in order to mitigate and minimize potential threats to Canadian satellites and other space assets. It will also permit a strengthening of Canadian research activities into space debris related activities through enhanced cooperation with international partners.
Other IADC member agencies include the following:
– ASI (Agenzia Spaziale Italiana)
– CNES (Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales)
– CNSA (China National Space Administration)
– DLR (German Aerospace Center)
– ESA (European Space Agency)
– ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation)
– JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency)
– NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration)
– NSAU (National Space Agency of Ukraine)
– ROSCOSMOS (Russian Federal Space Agency)
– UKSpace (UK Space Agency)