Table of Contents

Science

Summary of the XIV Space Exploration Advisory Committee Meeting

November 30^th – December 1^st, 2006
University of Alberta, Edmonton

The Space Exploration Advisory Committee of the Canadian Space Agency held its semi-annual meeting November 30-December 1, 2006 at the University of Alberta in Edmonton. The committee gave feedback on current CSA planetary exploration program elements and new CSA initiatives that impact the CSA planetary exploration program.

• The results of consultations and workshops in October concerning Canada's role in upcoming space exploration initiatives by NASA and other international partners were reviewed. On behalf of the planetary sciences community in Canada, SEAC reaffirmed its support for Canadian scientific and engineering involvement in international space exploration plans. The objective is to enable Canadian astronauts to participate in missions to the Moon, Mars and elsewhere, putting Canadian "boots on the regolith".
  
  
• An invited speaker, the manager of the CSA Awareness and Learning program, discussed practical ways the Canadian planetary exploration community can help increase scientific literacy in Canada by making time and resources available to review curriculum materials and for CSA Awareness and Learning projects and speaking opportunities.
  
  
• SEAC members were asked for input into a revised CSA Space Science Grants and Contributions program, and made suggestions to broaden current categories to include matched funding for a range of opportunities and the extension of the student supplements program to provincial awards.

The committee visited the storage facilities for the recently acquired pristine Tagish Lake meteorites. Publicity and media inquiries resulting from a Science magazine paper written by NASA researchers on primitive, pre-solar organic compounds found in Tagish Lake, were coincident with the SEAC meeting.

Actions and Recommendations

ACTION (SEAC): To co-ordinate a SEAC study on the need for a Canadian lunar and planetary institute using LPI and analogous models and report back at SEAC XV.

ACTION (SEAC): To send the Chair names and contact information for proposed new members by January 1st 2007

Recommendation 1: SEAC recommends six Discipline Working Group contracts be awarded in order to represent the diversity of the community

Recommendation 2: SEAC recommends providing access to international analogue sites for Canadians.

Recommendation 3: SEAC recommends that the Canadian Analogue Research Network (CARN) welcome international participation in Canadian analogue sites

Recommendation 4: SEAC recommends that Canadian Space Exploration Workshop activities be placed in the context of the CSA Space Science and Exploration Thrust

Recommendation 5: The SEAC meeting agenda should include periodic open and closed sessions.

Recommendation 6: SEAC should hold regular additional teleconferences to which CSA could submit agenda items.