The Role of NewSpace in Furthering Canadian Astronomy
Space has become more accessible, led by commercial actors taking an increasingly important role. SpaceX alone completed 21 launches in 2018, placing communication and navigation satellites into orbit, resupplying the ISS, and launching TESS. The Beresheet mission, while ultimately crashing on the Moon, was a major milestone because it was driven by a private company incorporated in Israel. Such landings, whether successful or not, had previously only been attempted by major space-faring nations (Soviet Union/Russia, United States, EU, Japan, India, and China). A private American company (Moon Express) is planning a mission to the Moon with the International Lunar Observatory (ILO) as a payload. If successful, it will be the first international facility in space organized by a non-profit global enterprise (ILOA). A Canadian company is one of the primary contractors for this mission and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Moon Express to explore options for collaboration with the CSA and Canada's private space sector on technologies and payloads for missions to the Moon. In Low-Earth Orbit, new models for scientific study are also emerging. When CSA funding for the satellite MOST ceased in 2014, the project was taken over by Microsatellite Systems Canada Inc., which continued operations using a pay-for-use model. The UK mission Twinkle (2022 launch) is being developed and run by a private company that will offer photometric and spectroscopic observing capabilities under a similar pay-for-use model, with an anticipated strict proprietary data policy. Canada has formally joined the United States in the planned Lunar Orbital Platform-Gateway, and is planning to invest $2 billion over the next 24 years. If successful, the mission will see a space station and launch platform in orbit about the Moon that will facilitate human and robotic missions on the lunar surface. Gateway will be open to both government and commercial actors. It will also not be the only means for ...