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Achievements of the David Florida Laboratory

Please note that David-Florida Laboratory operations will be terminated by . Information related to this section may be consulted for reference purposes only.

Since its opening, the David Florida Laboratory (DFL) has contributed significantly to telecommunications and satellite remote sensing in Canada. Today, the DFL continues to play a key role in the Canadian space program. Because of its achievements, the DFL has been used by a number of other countries as an integration and testing centre for space hardware. Below is a list of the main projects in which the DFL has been involved since .

Achievements

Missions
Year Mission/project Notes
SpainSat NG

Next generation of the Spanish communication satellite SpainSat.

Radio frequency and thermal vacuum testing will be carried out at the DFL.
to SMILE

The Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE) mission will study Earth's magnetosphere, building a more complete understanding of the Sun–Earth connection by measuring the solar wind and its dynamic interaction with the magnetosphere.

Environmental testing was carried out at the DFL.
to ExoMars

The main scientific objective of the ExoMars program is to establish whether life ever existed on Mars.

Structural qualification tests were carried out at the DFL on the ExoMars camera components.
to SWOT The Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) mission will survey 90% of Earth's surface water; observe the fine details of the ocean's surface topography; and measure how lakes, rivers, reservoirs and oceans are changing over time.
to RCM

The RADARSAT Constellation Mission (RCM) is Canada's new generation of Earth observation satellites. Launched on , the three identical satellites work together to bring solutions to key challenges for Canadians.

Radio frequency and environmental testing was carried out at the DFL.
to Cygnus TriDAR

Neptec's TriDAR rendezvous and docking sensor tested for use on the Cygnus spacecraft, which brings supplies to the International Space Station.

Environmental testing was carried out at the DFL.
to Sicral 2

Sicral 2 is a technological state-of-the-art system, designed to bolster the military satellite communications capabilities already offered by Italy's Sicral 1 and Sicral 1B satellites, and by the Syracuse system in France.

Radio frequency testing took place at the DFL.
to M3MSat

The Canadian Maritime Monitoring and Messaging Microsatellite (M3MSat) aims to improve Canada's space-based capabilities to detect ships and manage marine traffic. It provides an opportunity to test and improve Canada's space-based Automatic Identification System, which will provide a more complete view of marine traffic.

Radio frequency and environmental testing took place at the DFL.
to NEOSSat

NEOSSat is the world's first space telescope dedicated to detecting and tracking asteroids and satellites. The cutting-edge satellite is able to detect asteroids as well as monitor space debris. Unlike ground-based telescopes, NEOSSat is able to track satellites and space debris in a wide variety of locations and is not limited by geographic location, weather, or the day/night cycle.

Radio frequency and environmental testing took place at the DFL.

Optus-10

Communications satellite providing services to Australia and New Zealand.

Thermal vacuum testing was carried out at the DFL.
to Sapphire

Canada's first dedicated operational military satellite.

Thermal vacuum testing was carried out at the DFL.
QuetzSat

Mexican high-power geostationary communications satellite.

Thermal vacuum testing was carried out at the DFL.
Telstar 14R

Canadian communications satellite, providing Ku-band communication to South America and the southern United States.

Thermal vacuum testing was carried out at the DFL.
Intelsat 17, 19 and 20

Multinational communications satellites.

Thermal vacuum testing was carried out at the DFL.
to TriDAR

TriDAR technology provides guidance information that can be used to guide an uncrewed vehicle during rendezvous and docking operations in space. TriDAR provided astronauts with real-time guidance information during rendezvous and docking with the International Space Station.

Radio frequency and environmental testing took place at the DFL.
to Nimiq 5 and 6

Canadian telecommunications satellites.

Thermal vacuum testing was carried out at the DFL.
to Galileo

European Space Agency's global satellite navigation system.

Some radio frequency and thermal vacuum tests were carried out at the DFL.
to James Webb Space Telescope

Successor to the Hubble Space Telescope, the Webb Telescope is a joint mission by NASA, the European Space Agency and the Canadian Space Agency. Canada has provided the Fine Guidance Sensor (FGS), which is integral to the telescope's attitude control system.

The environmental test campaign for the FGS was done at the DFL.
to CASSIOPE

CASSIOPE carries two payloads: Cascade provides the world's first space-based, commercial, electronic courier service; and the Enhanced Polar Outflow Probe (ePOP) studies space weather phenomena in Earth's upper atmosphere.

The environmental test campaign for CASSIOPE was carried out at the DFL.
AsiaSat 5

American Ku-band communications satellite provides coverage across North America and Europe.

Thermal vacuum testing was carried out at the DFL.
Telstar 11N

American Ku-band communications satellite provides coverage across North America and Europe.

Thermal vacuum testing at the spacecraft level was done at the DFL under contract from MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (MDA) for Space Systems/Loral (SS/L).
CMBStar 1

American telecommunications satellite built by SS/L provided mobile video services for the Olympics. Also known as EchoStar 13.

Thermal vacuum testing on the all-up spacecraft was done at the DFL under contract from Ltd.MDA for SS/L.
to RADARSAT-2

Canada's next-generation Earth observation satellite was launched in .
MOST Canada's astronomical space telescope measured the oscillation in light intensity of stars.
SCISAT Canada's terrestrial atmospheric studies satellite.
OPTUS C1 Australian communications satellite.
to BSAT 2A, BSAT 2B and BSAT 2C

Japanese direct-to-home television broadcast communications satellites.

The DFL was contracted by Orbital Sciences Corporation for mass properties measurements and radio frequency testing.
IndoStar Indonesian direct broadcast communications satellite. Also known as Cakrawarta 1.
to Mobile Servicing System Canada's contribution to the International Space Station consists of the versatile robot Dextre, the Canadarm2 robotic arm, and the Mobile Base System.
to MSAT M1 and M2 Commercial mobile communications satellites. MSAT M2 is also known as AMSC-1.
to RADARSAT-1 Canada's first Earth observation satellite.
to Anik E1 and E2 Replacing the Anik C and D communications satellites.
to Olympus-1 Large European Space Agency multipayload communications satellite. Also known as L-Sat.
to DFL Expansion High Bay 3 In support of testing the European Space Agency's Olympus communications satellite.
to BrasilSat S1 and S2 Brazilian communications satellites. First international prime contract.
to Anik D1 and D2 Canadian communications satellites. First prime contract awarded to a Canadian company.
to Anik C2 Canadian communications satellite. Launched by the U.S. Space Shuttle (Mission STS-07).
to DFL expansion First expansion of the DFL's qualification facilities to support the Canadian space sector.
to Canadarm Canadian robotic arm that supported Space Shuttle missions.
to Hermes Also known as the Communications Technology Satellite. First satellite integrated and tested at the DFL. Joint Canadian–American effort to demonstrate direct-to-home broadcasting.
DFL official opening .

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