Canadian Space Agency.

Canadian Space Agency. Canadian Space Agency (CSA), agency of the Canadian federal government that promotes the development and peaceful use of space for the social and economic benefit of Canadians. Established by an act of the Canadian Parliament in 1989, the CSA acts as the central, coordinating body for a wide range of projects that were previously the domain of various government departments and agencies. The CSA oversees numerous science and technology programs, which are grouped into five primary sectors: Space Systems; Space Operations; Canada's Astronaut Office; Space Science; and Space Technologies. CSA headquarters is located in Saint-Hubert, Québec. The Space Systems Sector manages Canada's contributions to cooperative programs with other countries, including the International Space Station. This permanently inhabited space station is a joint venture with the United States, Japan, Russia, and the European Space Agency. Canada's primary contribution to the space station is the development, construction, and operation of an advanced manipulator, known as the Mobile Servicing System. The Mobile Servicing System is used for assembly, maintenance, and servicing tasks. In return, Canada has the right to use the space station for scientific and technological research. The Space Operations Sector operates and manages the David Florida Laboratory, a facility where spacecrafts are assembled and tested. Canada's Astronaut Office selects and trains the country's astronauts and ensures their health and safety during space missions. The Space Science Sector plans, coordinates, and implements Canada's scientific space research activities. These activities include missions on space shuttles and sounding rockets, which are used to study the atmosphere. The Space Technologies Sector promotes the development of new space technologies and their applications on Earth; some of these applications are improved communications, medical imaging, and nuclear waste treatment. This sector also works closely with the Canadian aerospace industry to develop an internationally competitive space industry. It assists Canadian companies by providing technical, engineering, and marketing support. It also invests in the development of new space technologies and systems. One such system is RADARSAT, an all-weather, day/night Earth observation satellite that helps monitor and protect the environment. The U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) launched RADARSAT in 1995 in return for access to its data. RADARSAT was funded by the federal government, several provincial governments, and the private sector. It is operated by the CSA. The CSA is headed by a president, who is responsible to Parliament through the minister of industry. The CSA also cooperates with the Department of National Defence. A CSA liaison officer is assigned to the Directorate of Space Development at National Defence Headquarters. Canada has a long history of involvement and innovation in space. It was the third country, after the United States and the former Soviet Union, to design and develop a satellite, the Alouette I, which it launched in 1962. In 1972, when it deployed the first of the Anik series of satellites, Canada became the first country in the world to have a commercial communications satellite in geosynchronous orbit. Satellites in geosynchronous orbits rotate at the same speed as Earth spins and remain in fixed positions above Earth. This permits uninterrupted communications between ground stations. In 1981 Canada's remote manipulator system, Canadarm, was used for the first time, on NASA's Space Shuttle Columbia. The Canadarm was precursor to the more advanced Mobile Servicing System. The Canadarm is a robot arm that enables the crew of a shuttle to deploy and retrieve satellites, explore samples, and perform other tasks while in orbit. Contributed By: Jim Fergusson Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.