20.09.2017

Innovative sensor system for the International Space Station will keep astronauts safe

Ontario-based company awarded $11.9-million contract to design space vision system

September 18, 2017 – Longueuil, Quebec

Canadians working in the space sector will benefit from new jobs and business opportunities as a result of an $11.9-million contract awarded to Neptec Design Group, an Ottawa-based company specializing in the development of intelligent spaceflight sensors and equipment.

As part of the contract, awarded by the Canadian Space Agency(CSA), Neptec Design Group will develop a state-of-the-art vision system for the International Space Station (ISS). This innovative vision system will use a combination of three sensors to monitor the outside of the ISS, keeping the space laboratory inside safe and operational. The technology will give the Space Station's Canadian robotic handyman, Dextre, the ability to quickly detect signs of damage on the exterior of the Space Station, which will keep astronauts safe on board.

This innovative technology, set to launch in 2021, will help spacecraft dock when visiting the ISS. It will also relay images of the ISS back to Earth, giving Canadians a view of the Space Station as never seen before. This vision system could eventually be used as part of future deep-space exploration missions.

This initiative is part of the Government of Canada's Innovation and Skills Plan, a multi-year effort to create jobs for the middle class.

Quelle: Canadian Space Agency