Science and Governance: Dual Opportunities for Canadian Leadership in Space

Canadian science has an impressive record of being at the forefront in space. Canada was only the third country, after the United States and the Soviet Union, to build a satellite—Alouette 1, to monitor the ionosphere—launched in 1962. In 1992, Canadian astronaut Roberta Bondar was the first neurologist in space and an early contributor to the discipline of space medicine.

Currently, the Fine Guidance Sensor instrument contributed by the Canadian Space Agency to the James Webb Space Telescope enables its breathtaking images by keeping the telescope stable during long exposure times, while the NIRISS instrument looks for signatures of life around other worlds. Looking ahead, Canada will be the fifth nation in the world to have pristine material from other bodies in the Solar System when the OSIRIS-REx samples from the asteroid Bennu come to the John H. Chapman Space Centre in 2026. These are but a few examples of Canada’s outstanding legacy of space science leadership.

Science, Security, and Technology Development

In the present landscape of conflict and international uncertainty, science missions might seem like a distraction from operational and defensive space needs. However, this view ignores the relationship between space security and the development of new technologies that make this security possible. Our legacy of leadership in space science creates the environment needed for developing those capabilities.

As an example, by some measures, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is a million times more sensitive than Hubble. This giant leap in capability was possible because of the combined efforts of thousands of astronomers and engineers, as well as the willingness of NASA, CSA, and ESA to take on the risk of extending the boundaries of technology far beyond the existing state of the art.

Scientists plan to use JWST to seek answers to big questions like “What was the early universe like?” and “Is there life outside of our Solar System?” Clearly, the specifications for JWST’s science instruments were incredibly demanding; these requirements pushed industry to level up significantly. The expertise developed by Canadian industry in fine guidance pointing for astronomy has been leveraged for the laser communication required for the Quantum Encryption and Science Satellite (QEYSSAT) to demonstrate secure communication protocols necessary for privacy and defence.

CASTOR: The Next Canadian Space Mission

The success of Canadian universities and companies in meeting the challenges posed by JWST has generated a new opportunity for Canada to lead in space science. The Cosmological Advanced Survey Telescope for Optical and UV Research (CASTOR) is a proposed CSA-led space astronomy mission which would image the skies in ultraviolet and blue light, providing image sharpness comparable to the Hubble Space Telescope with a mapping speed a hundred times faster.

Ultraviolet observations cannot be made with ground-based telescopes or with JWST and are key to investigating the nature of dark energy and the atmospheres of planets outside the Solar System. The 35-year-old Hubble is the only general-purpose ultraviolet telescope, and its remaining lifetime is limited. CASTOR would fill a critical gap in space astronomy internationally, providing a superb complement to JWST.

The mission concept is mature, with substantial interest and involvement from Canadian industry and enthusiastic international partners. Developing the technologies required to realize CASTOR’s science goals would allow Canadian companies to showcase their capabilities to the world and build their human capital. In addition, Canada would demonstrate capacity in optical communications and large-format, high-resolution detectors that could be used for monitoring the Northwest Passage.

Advancing the development of CASTOR and committing to its launch will show the world that Canada is ready to lead its first large-scale international space science mission, inspire the next generation of Canadian space explorers, and supply the world with first-rate space technologies.

Governance of Satellite Constellations

The massive steps forward in space science, illustrated by JWST and CASTOR, came about because of interagency and international collaboration. This cooperation, however, is missing in low Earth orbit, which is rapidly becoming filled with tens of thousands of small, disposable satellites with bright reflections that hide the night sky and interrupt astronomical observations.

The mega-constellations pose a risk of generating a runaway cascade of space debris and are dumping an alarming amount of aluminum and lithium into our upper atmosphere on re-entry. Canada’s geography magnifies both the benefits of these satellite constellations—for example, in providing internet to remote locations—and the harms: satellite reflections are worst at the latitudes where most Canadians live. The lack of coordinated international governance in this domain offers another opportunity for Canadian leadership in space.

Canada’s Role in International Space Policy

As a trusted partner in international space cooperation, Canada is well-positioned to broker international discussions on policies relating to satellite constellations. Existing guidelines for space debris mitigation provide a model for proposing a set of clear standards for the scope of and limits on satellite constellations, by accounting for environmentally and culturally sensitive assessments of their impact.

Such guidelines could be negotiated within the United Nations Committee for the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, stemming from discussions in its Scientific and Technical Subcommittee on emerging issues and challenges posed by large constellations on the dark and quiet skies so necessary for astronomy. The International Telecommunication Union is another relevant partner in this domain.

These guidelines would go beyond consideration of orbital slots and radio frequency assignments to address the space environment, including the production of space debris and light reflections. Canada can also leverage its success in international environmental advocacy, as with the Montreal Protocol, designed to protect the ozone layer, to advocate for recognition of the potential atmospheric impacts of rocket launches and satellite re-entry.

Finally, Canada’s vast land mass provides an ideal platform for monitoring and reporting on satellite constellation orbits and brightness, enabling leadership in providing the data required for decision-making.

The Future of Canada’s Space Industry

We live in a rapidly changing world, with old partnerships fraying and new ones forming. Space science and space policy are directly connected to Canada’s high-tech capacity and international alliances. The time is now for Canada to take leadership on both fronts, to build a more prosperous future for Canada and for the world.