Canadian Space Agency : With the launch of Alouette I for ionospheric research in 1962, Canada became the third country in the world to enter the space age, after the Soviet Union and the United States. The Alouette II satellite followed in 1965. Dr. John Chapman, head of the Alouette Project, was then asked to create a blueprint for Canada's future in space. In 1967 that first blueprint, the report titled "UPPER ATMOSPHERE AND SPACE PROGRAMS IN CANADA" (also known as the 1967 Chapman Report), recommended, among other things, the development of a national space agency.
In 1969, the Canadian Cabinet created the Interdepartmental Committee on Space (ICS) to advise the government on policy and planning for Canadian space activities. Originally chaired by Ministry of State for Science and Technology (MOSST - 1969-1976), responsibility for the ICS passed to the Department of Communications (DOC) (1976-1980) and back to MOSST (1980-1989).
Canadian ionospheric studies continued with the launch of International Satellites ISIS-I and ISIS-II in 1969 and 1972 respectively. The David Florida Laboratory (DFL) - named after the manager of the ISIS program - was founded in Ottawa in 1972, as a spacecraft assembly, integration and testing centre. Gradually, the DFL evolved into a support facility for major space projects involving telecommunications, earth observation and robotics technologies. In 1975, Canada entered into the first of a series of five and ten-year agreements with the European Space Agency (ESA).
Following the success of the Remote Manipulator System (RMS, also known as the Canadarm) developed by the National Research Council (NRC) of Canada for the United States Space Shuttle, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) offered to fly a Canadian into space on the Shuttle. In 1983, the first group of six Canadian astronauts were selected, with Marc Garneau becoming the first Canadian in space in October of 1984.
On 1 March 1989, the space-oriented divisions of the Ministry of State for Science and Technology (MOSST); the National Research Council (NRC); the Department of Energy, Mines and Resources (EMR) and the Department of Communications (DOC) were re-grouped to create the Canadian Space Agency (CSA or "the Agency"). Authority for this new Agency came from the Canadian Space Agency Act (S.C. 1990, c. 13), which was officially passed on 14 December 1990. The Act established the Agency's mandate as: "THE PEACEFUL USE AND DEVELOPMENT OF SPACE, TO ADVANCE THE KNOWLEDGE OF SPACE THROUGH SCIENCE AND TO ENSURE THAT SPACE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY PROVIDE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC BENEFITS FOR CANADIANS". Dr. Larkin Kerwin was named as the first president.
The Agency has a status equivalent to that of a Department of the Government of Canada and reports to Parliament through the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development (formerly the Minister of Industry). The President, who has powers equivalent to those of a deputy minister, manages an organization divided into 14 divisions, which can be loosely organized into three branches - science, integrated functions and administration. The 'Science' branch consists of: the Space Science Program; the Space Technologies Division; the Space Systems Division; the Space Operations Program; and the Canadian Astronaut Office. The 'Integrated Functions Branch' consists of: Administration, Human Resources and Legal Services. The 'Administrative Branch' consists of: Communications; Corporate Management: Audit, Evaluation and Review; Strategic Development; External Relations, and Government Liaison.
In fulfilment of its mandate, the CSA has managed Canada's involvement with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the European Space Agency (ESA), and the International Space Station (ISS). The Agency has also been involved in many projects, including the RADARSAT-1 and RADARSAT-2 satellites, experiments with the International Space Station, the selection and missions of Canadian astronauts, and more. The website of the CSA can be found at http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca.
