Vancouver, B.C.: Geocentrix Technologies Ltd. is pleased to announce the teams competing for Canada’s first Canadian Satellite Design Challenge (CSDC). This Canada-wide university competition is challenging universities to create new innovative satellite designs that may lead to advancements in this industry. The challenge runs over two academic years. The winning team will be selected in late 2012, with the intention of launching its satellite into orbit to conduct a science research mission.
Excitement is mounting as the teams work towards the first project milestone: a Preliminary Design Review, where their initial designs will be evaluated by experienced engineers and scientists from Canadian space industry.
The CSDC will give participating students a solid foundation in satellite design, project management, and working in a large, inter-disciplinary team setting. This experience will give the students an immense advantage when they graduate and begin looking for careers in the Canadian space industry or other high-tech companies; their experience will also benefit the companies who hire them.
The competition, and many of the teams, have received wide-spread support from Canadian space companies, who see the importance in developing the next generation of space mission engineering and management leaders.
Universities participating include:
Carleton University (Ottawa, ON)
Concordia University (Montreal, QC)
Dalhousie University (Halifax, NS)
Queen’s University (Kingston, ON)
Royal Military College of Canada (Kingston, ON)
The University of Alberta (Edmonton, AB)
The University of British Columbia (Vancouver, BC)
The University of Manitoba (Winnipeg, MB)
The University of Saskatchewan (Saskatoon, SK)
The University of Victoria (Victoria, BC)
The University of Waterloo (Waterloo, ON)
The University of Winnipeg (Winnipeg, MB)
York University (Toronto, ON)
Small satellites are extremely cost-effective to develop, due to the shrinking size and increasing capabilities of the electronic components which are used. The satellites which the teams will be building are smaller than the average shoe-box, but can be extremely capable. Previous satellites of this size have included science instruments to detect emissions from seismic activity during earthquakes, Earth-observation cameras, and receivers to detect ship-borne Automatic Identification System beacons.
The reductions in size and mass also enable the satellites to get a low-cost launch by “piggybacking” on rockets launching larger satellites.
CSDC is pleased to be working with key leaders in the Canadian and U.S. space industry and proudly acknowledges their sponsorship. These companies include MITACS, MDA, Microsat Systems Canada, Neptec, ABB, Magellan Aerospace, AppSpace Solutions, Analytical Graphics, Manitoba Aerospace, MAYA, NEI Software, SolidWorks, the Canadian Space Society, and the H.R. Macmillan Space Centre.
For more information on the Canadian Satellite Design Challenge please visit: http://www.geocentrix.ca/files/documents/CSDC/CSDC_Overview.pdf
Media Contact:
Larry Reeves
Geocentrix Technologies Ltd.
phone: 778-988-6343
e-mail: CSDC@Geocentrix.ca
Relevant Websites:
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