2018-19 Departmental Plan

Description

The CSA coordinates the space policies and programs of the government of Canada; ensures that other government departments and agencies have access to space data, information, and services to deliver on their mandate; plans, directs and manages projects relating to scientific or industrial space research and the development of space science and technology; promotes the transfer and diffusion of space technology to and throughout the Canadian industry; and encourages the commercial exploitation of the space capabilities, technology, facilities and systems. The CSA also aims to build Canada's capacity and engage the next generation of space scientists and engineers and provide opportunities to inspire young people to develop the required skills and to pursue studies and careers in science, technology, engineering and math.

Planning highlights

A thriving space sector is of critical importance to the electronic financial system and delivering on a vast array of national needs. Satellites provide an invisible infrastructure in the daily lives of Canadians and the world. Space also provides a unique vantage point from which to observe the Earth. Currently, eleven Government of Canada departments and agencies depend on space to deliver on their mandate and priorities related to monitoring the environment and climate change; weather forecasting; safety and security; health innovation and infrastructure. Investments in space result in more high quality jobs and more innovation in Canada. In 2018–19, the CSA chose to outline the planning highlights section below along the four departmental results outlined in its Departmental Results Framework which includes space research and development advances science and technology, Canadians engage with space, space information and technology improves the lives of Canadians and Canada's investment in space benefit the Canadian economy and each one is critically important in demonstrating the impact the CSA has on the lives of Canadians.

Result 1 – Space research and development advances science and technology

Through advancements in science and technology resulting from research and development in the space sector, the CSA enables the first steps in the continuum of change that will result in benefits for Canadians.

In 2018–19, the CSA will continue the implementation of the Quantum Encryption and Science Satellite (QEYSSat) demonstration mission, which aims to demonstrate quantum key distribution technology in space. This technology will provide Canada with more secure communications in the age of quantum computing, when traditional encryption is rendered obsolete. A Request for Proposals (RFP) will be issued to define the detailed requirements for the mission, which is scheduled to launch in 2022–23. This mission will advance considerably both the technology and scientific understanding of quantum key distribution in Canada which could result in benefits for various Government of Canada departments and agencies including the Department of National Defence, Communications Security Establishment, National Research Council, and Public Safety Canada.

In the fall of 2018, an Announcement of Opportunity (AO) for the next wave of the Space and Technology Development Program will be launched to invest $10.0M in promising space technologies. At the same time, the CSA's investment in 32 companies for a value of approximately $20.0M resulting from the 2017–18 AO will support companies in such areas as artificial cognitive systems to support medical diagnostics in long-duration spaceflights and related terrestrial applications, and the improvement of satellites' downlink capacity using optical systems.

These initiatives will stimulate Business Expenditure in Research and Development which is the first step toward advancements in science and technologies. It is expected that businesses will invest a total of $195.0M in Research and Development in 2018–19.

In support of advancing space science and technologies, the CSA will also provide Canadian scientists who are conducting world-class research with continued access to scientific data by maintaining the operation of the Canadian science mission SCISAT. SCISAT provides Canadian researchers, including researchers at Environment and Climate Change Canada, as well as international researchers, with the data required to make key observations that advance research in the fields of ozone protection and atmospheric chemistry. Data generated by this satellite has resulted in 440 SCISAT-supported publications to date, and a further 30 publications are anticipated in 2018–19, thus demonstrating the ongoing importance of this science mission.

Planetary exploration and space astronomy missions also provide unique opportunities for Canadian scientists to embark on international space missions and gain access to scientific data. The CSA will invest $2.1M to support Canadian science teams participating in NASA's Curiosity rover mission, the OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample return mission, and India's ASTROSAT mission.

In addition to providing critical robotic operations on the International Space Station with Canadarm2 and Dextre, in 2018–19 the CSA will provide opportunities for industry and academia to perform studies and technology developments that will help define options for Canada's possible participation in international human exploration initiatives beyond low Earth orbit.

Also in 2018–19, the integration and testing of the James Webb Space Telescope spacecraft will be finalized, and the science teams will be ready to take advantage of the most powerful space telescope ever launched. After its launch, which is currently planned for mid-2019, Canadian astronomers will have opportunities to use the telescope to make new discoveries.

By providing access to high-quality scientific data and supporting researchers, the CSA will contribute to maintaining Canada's international ranking in citation index scores for space-related publications.

Result 2 – Canadians engage with space

By taking advantage of Canadians' interest in space and by providing opportunities for youth to acquire the skills to pursue studies and careers in STEM, the CSA will support the development of the next generation of space scientists and engineers.

In November 2018, CSA astronaut David Saint-Jacques will be launched aboard a Soyuz spacecraft to the ISS for a six-month mission, known as Expedition 58. This will be Canada's third long-duration mission, and follows on the mission of astronaut Robert Thirsk in 2009 and that of Commander Chris Hadfield in 2012–13. Long-duration astronaut missions on the ISS are high-profile and celebrated achievements that inspire and engage the Canadian public and youth while sparking engagement with the CSA. This is an opportunity for the CSA to invite young Canadians to engage in STEM activities by actively collaborating and partnering with other government departments and agencies as in the case of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada's Little Inventors and Let's Talk Science which will help bring space into classrooms across Canada.

As part of the Science, Technology and Expertise Development in Academia (STEDiA) initiative, which supports colleges and universities developing space science and technology, and the expertise required for the future, the CSA will continue to work on the Canadian CubeSat Project that was launched in 2017–18. Through this project, teams of professors and students across Canada will take part in a space mission. In 2018–19, the CSA will award up to 13 grants each valued between $0.2M and $0.25M (for a total of $2.9M) to post-secondary institutions that, as part of a challenge, will have up to four years to design, build, launch and operate their own satellites. The CSA's Canadian CubeSat Project seeks to support proposals from each province and territory across Canada. The STEDiA initiative will also invest $3.6M in the Flights and Fieldwork for the Advancement of Science and Technology to support space research in Canadian post-secondary institutions.

The CSA will also invest $2.3M in Solar-Terrestrial and Earth System Science and $0.5M in Science and Operational Applications Research in Earth Observation.

Through these initiatives, post-secondary students and young professionals will acquire the professional skills and the scientific and/or technical knowledge required to be in a better position to play an active role in the space sector. In 2018–19, as part of its effort to apply a Gender Based Analysis (GBA) plus approach, the CSA will review its indicators and current methodologies to better monitor its impacts on youth.

Result 3 – Space information and technologies improve the lives of Canadians

Canadians may not be aware of all the benefits generated by Canada's presence in space, from communication and Earth observation data to the potential spin-offs of technology for use on Earth. The CSA supports other government departments and agencies in the delivery of their mandates by providing access to space data, information, and services as well as encourages the commercial exploitation of space capabilities, technologies, facilities and systems that improve the lives of Canadians.

In 2018–19, the CSA will continue to provide ongoing high-quality space radar data for government services using RADARSAT-2 capabilities while preparing to launch the next-generation system, the RADARSAT Constellation Mission (RCM). When the RCM is launched in 2018–19 it will include an Automatic Identification System, which will improve Canada's space-based capabilities to detect ships and manage marine traffic. The data resulting from the RCM will contribute to an increased quality of existing services already being offered, as well as offer new services, such as land use evolution, coastal change, urban subsidence and even the impact of people on local environments. The RCM will be fully operational three months after the launch once the commissioning is complete. New tools will be provided to other government departments and agencies to automate RCM data processing. The CSA will also continue to explore how to increase wider uptake of the RADARSAT data archives, furthering the socio-economic benefits of this investment. In total, eleven federal organizations are using RADARSAT data to deliver on their mandate including: Environment and Climate Change Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the Department of National Defence, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and the Public Health Agency of Canada.

Through the investment of $2.6M in 2018–19 in the Earth Observation Application Development initiative, the CSA will further support these same government departments and agencies, as well as provincial and territorial governments, academic and industry stakeholders by increasing the number and quality of services provided to Canadians. For instance, a new process using multiple sources of data resulting in maps of forest attributes across the Northwest Territories (NWT) will be provided to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources of the NWT government, which will then use this information to deliver multiple services to Canadians, such as detection of clear-cut and partial-cut harvesting; monitoring of forest regeneration following disturbances; and estimates of biomass and forest cover density.

The CSA will also continue to invest $3.7M in the joint NASA-CNES (Centre national d'études spatiales – the French space agency) Surface Water Ocean Topography mission by providing a key component of the radar instrument which will showcase key Canadian technology internationally. This technology will enable accurate measurements of Canada's water resources, which in turn will provide the scientific community with a better understanding of the dynamics of the world's oceans and terrestrial surface water, allowing them to address important global issues like climate change and improve our management of water as a strategic resource. The SWOT data could lead to improvements in many water-related services in Canada, such as weather predictions and flood-warning systems thus benefitting Environment and Climate Change Canada and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans scientists who will have access to better data in support of their mandates.

During CSA astronaut David Saint-Jacques' time aboard the ISS, from November 2018 to May 2019, a series of scientific experiments will be conducted. The Vascular Echo experiment will examine changes in the blood vessels and the heart while the astronauts are in space, and then follow their recovery after their return to Earth. At Home in Space will assess the culture, values, and psychosocial adaptation of astronauts to a space environment shared by multinational astronaut crews on long-duration missions as they deal with the isolated and confined environment of the spacecraft. It is expected that the knowledge acquired during these experiments will have future useful applications on Earth.

In 2018–19, the CSA will also launch two Canadian-developed technologies aboard the ISS. The first is the Bio-Monitor, a smart garment that records physiological parameters such as heart rate and temperature. The second is the Bio-Analyzer, which will perform sophisticated analyses of physiological samples such as blood. Both technologies will be supporting human research on the ISS and are expected to find applications on Earth in areas such as health monitoring at home and in remote areas.

In 2018–19, it is expected that 7 technological spin-offs resulting from the CSA's past investments will benefit Canadians.

Result 4 – Canada's investments in space benefit the Canadian economy

By supporting innovation in the space sector, the CSA will enable Canadian innovators and entrepreneurs to take advantage of growth opportunities and create well-paying jobs. While investments in the space program generate national pride and help other government departments deliver services to Canadians, it is paramount that investments in space activities also result in economic benefits for Canadians. These benefits are the ultimate goal of the Innovation and Skills Plan, which is an ambitious effort to make Canada a world-leading centre for innovation; help create better, well-paying jobs; and help strengthen and grow the middle class.

As such, in 2018–19, through Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada's Innovative Solutions Canada (ISC) initiative, the CSA will invest $0.3M in small businesses to prove the scientific and technical feasibility, and commercial potential, of a novel idea that addresses a public sector challenge. The first challenges of ISC, which were officially launched in December 2017, included the CSA's challenge for innovators to apply artificial intelligence and big data analytics to bring tangible advancements in the operation and utilization of satellites, their data and ground infrastructure in support of government operations, public safety, public health and discovery. The CSA expects that the results regarding the successful innovative solutions challenges submitted by the innovators will be available in 2018–19. The CSA will closely monitor the results of this initiative and will use it to inform decisions-making regarding the use of this innovative procurement process for future investments.

The Canada / European Space Agency (ESA) Cooperation Agreement is the main mechanism used to sustain Canadian space industry exports and facilitates access to the European and global markets. As a result of the additional investment of $43.0M in ESA's Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) program in December 2016, it is anticipated that in 2018–19 several contracts with a high potential for future exports will be awarded to Canadian industry.

In 2018–19, the CSA will invest $1.6M in contributions to support Canadian industry in the development of novel applications and services using Earth observation space-based data and information. These innovative applications that seek to integrate data from CSA-supported missions with other massive data sources will help Canadian companies gain competitiveness by tapping into the possibilities offered by big data, cloud computing and machine-to-machine technologies. Combining CSA data such as RADARSAT-1 and RADARSAT-2 data with free and open satellite data (Sentinel, Envisat, Landsat), commercial satellite data, in-situ measurements and products like soil maps and weather models, furthers the impact of the CSA's investments.

These investments seek to ensure that Canadian space sector companies develop value-added services, while helping position them in the global export market, and ensuring that Canada's space sector maintains the value of exports overall.

By supporting the development, maturation, and commercialization of space technologies and services, the CSA will fully support the goals of the Innovation and Skills Plan by helping the Canadian space sector grow and create highly qualified and well-paying jobs for Canadians. As such, in 2018–19, it is expected that the space sector will generate $1.6 billion in exports and maintain 4,250 highly qualified jobs.

Financial, human resources and performance information for the Canadian Space Agency's Program Inventory is available in the GC InfoBase.

Description

Internal Services are those groups of related activities and resources that the federal government considers to be services in support of programs and/or required to meet corporate obligations of an organization. Internal Services refers to the activities and resources of the 10 distinct service categories that support Program delivery in the organization, regardless of the Internal Services delivery model in a department. The 10 service categories are: Management and Oversight Services; Communications Services; Legal Services; Human Resources Management Services; Financial Management Services; Information Management Services; Information Technology Services; Real Property Services; Materiel Services; and Acquisition Services.

Planning highlights

To ensure that we have a strong focus on results and that we provide clear oversight and accountability for Canada's investments in space, in 2018–19 the CSA will continue to implement its newly adopted Departmental Results Framework (DRF) and publish its annual State of the Canadian Space Sector Report. The CSA will also continue strengthening its knowledge of the Canadian space sector and the opportunities and challenges facing its growth and competitiveness by completing the ongoing assessments related to the downstream impacts of deep-space telecommunications and the socio-economic benefits of space utilization as well as standardizing the CSA's approach to calculating the return on investments in space.

As part of the initiative to improve the use of evidence and data in program innovation, as stated in the mandate letter addressed to the President of Treasury Board, and in light of the new DRF, the CSA will adjust its Five-Year Evaluation Plan. The CSA will also review its current processes and tools to ensure that evaluation results are fully integrated into decision-making and outline some of the lessons learned from these evaluations in future reporting.

The CSA will continue to implement its People-effective Management Strategy, an integrated three-year strategy (2017–20) that focuses on ensuring healthy, inclusive and empowering work environments, and establishing a productive and skilled workforce in 2018–19. The CSA will also continue the implementation of its Brain Friendly program that promotes the health and wellness of CSA employees through awareness, prevention and educational activities.

By integrating renewal initiatives within its strategic and operational plans, the CSA will create a streamlined and efficient organization that is built on ongoing improvement, thus allowing it to meet the challenges ahead.