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Thursday, October 10
 

09:00 EDT

Opening Ceremony
Montreal Student Space Associations - Mavesa Nguyen
Opening and Introduction to the Montreal Space Symposium & MSSA

Canadian Space Society - Ryan Anderson
Montreal Space Symposium Welcome

Speakers
avatar for Mavesa Nguyen

Mavesa Nguyen

President, MSSA - Montreal Student Space Associations
Mavesa is a Mechanical Engineering student at McGill University. Having discovered space at an intersection of her interests: biomedicine, engineering, and music; she aspires to foster multidisciplinary collaboration across her projects. She has been involved with the Montreal Student... Read More →
avatar for Ryan Anderson

Ryan Anderson

President, Satellite Canada Innovation Network
Satellites, Innovation, Startups, Hackathons, Consulting, LEO, MEO, GEO

Thursday October 10, 2019 09:00 - 09:30 EDT
Room CR1 ICAO - 999 Boulevard Robert-Bourassa, Montréal, QC H3C 5H10

09:30 EDT

Use the News
Media can be an ally if you take the time to understand how they do business and what motivates them. As an entrepreneur who has started several for profit and non-profit organizations, I've had to learn on the fly. In this talk I'll share some of what I've learned.
Speakers
avatar for Marc Boucher

Marc Boucher

Founder, SpaceQ
I'm an entrepreneur, journalist, publisher, technologist and political economist. I’m the founder of SpaceQ Media Inc. and co-founder of SpaceRef Interactive Inc.

Thursday October 10, 2019 09:30 - 09:50 EDT
Room CR1 ICAO - 999 Boulevard Robert-Bourassa, Montréal, QC H3C 5H10
  Outreach, Business, Arts & Media

09:50 EDT

How to See Human Interaction With Space as Art
The Voyager Golden Records, the Juno spacecraft, data from radio telescopes, and the ISS; all examples of how humans interact with space. Though typically considered through practical lenses, a cultural lens should also be applied. Such an application demands that human interaction with space be considered in many ways as art in itself. Human-space interaction reflects back on society in many ways: pop culture, space inventions adapted for grounded life, how we look at national borders, in how we see commercial and government enterprises, in what we think is plausible in our lifetimes. The motivation of space activities is another element of cultural significance. For example, the reason why North Americans are racing to send humans to Mars now is far removed from the reasons they sent humans to the moon during the 1960s and 70s. What kind of differing and converging ideas could there be behind the Voyager Golden Records and the spacebound Tesla Roadster? And what do those ideas reveal about us as a culture? When it comes to cultural studies, there are always more questions than answers. Offering new perspectives on how to ask and those questions, and how to attempt to answer them, will hopefully inspire others to do the same.
Speakers
HJ

Hannah Jack Halcro

President, Space Concordia
Hannah was one of the original Concordia University representatives with the Montreal Student Space Associations. She is the 2018-2020 President of Space Concordia where she seeks to cultivate a strong space community through engineering design projects and public events. Studying... Read More →

Thursday October 10, 2019 09:50 - 10:10 EDT
Room CR1 ICAO - 999 Boulevard Robert-Bourassa, Montréal, QC H3C 5H10
  Outreach, Arts & Media, Social Sciences

10:10 EDT

Transforming Social Orders at The Margins of Space: The Canadian Women of Alouette I and II Satellites
The Canadian space industry was brought to the attention of the world with the launch of the Alouette I satellite, in 1962. The launch of this satellite and its sister, Alouette II, in 1965 heralded the arrival of Canada as a key player in the burgeoning global space industry. There is increasing concern that expertise and tacit knowledge from previous generations who worked in the Canadian space industry will be lost with the aging of these science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) professionals, and administrative and corporate personnel. Our research is focused specifically on surfacing the gendered histories of Canadian women who contributed to the interdisciplinary work involved in the design, construction, testing, launch and operation of the Alouette I and II satellites. These women’s experiences in the burgeoning space industry must be part of our contemporary and future lexicon in such a way that their experiences are not lost to the past. We specifically look to their discourses, recalling their day-to-day social interactions and their contributions to these two satellite missions. Their stories and narratives are surfaced via fragmented historical genealogies, such as in archives, in present-day interviews with individuals, in photographic images, and in media reports of the time. Our objective is to plausibly retell these gendered histories within the context of Canadian Cold War experiences. To this end, our research includes working on synergies with Concordia University’s EngAGE Centre for Research on Aging as a way to inform the present and future gendered relationships in male-dominated fields of space and of similar industries. We hope to inspire present and future STEM-professional women and corporate/administrative professional women, and to incite them to embrace the rich historical heritage of Canadian women working in space.
Speakers
avatar for Dr. Stefanie Ruel

Dr. Stefanie Ruel

Assistant Professor, Concordia University
Stefanie Ruel received her Bachelor of Science from McGill University. She also holds a Masters of Business Administration and a Doctorate in Business Administration from Athabasca University. She is the recipient of Athabasca University’s Convocation Scholarship for Academic Excellence... Read More →

Thursday October 10, 2019 10:10 - 10:30 EDT
Room CR1 ICAO - 999 Boulevard Robert-Bourassa, Montréal, QC H3C 5H10
  Outreach, Space Sciences, Social Sciences

11:00 EDT

Plenary Session
11:00           ICAO - Mr. Yuri Fattah 
Keynote Address from Mr. Yuri Fattah, Program Manager of ICAO   

11:10           Canadian Armed Forces - Lieutenant-Colonel Catherine Marchetti 
Canada Defence Space Program 
Accelerate-Collaborate-Defend: Delivering the Space Objectives of Canada's Defence Policy

The four “C’s” for a sense of urgency.
Strong, Secure, Engaged: Defence Space Objectives within Canada’s defence policy.
CAF Joint Space Program: RCAF Functional Lead.
Current Capabilities and Projects.

11:35          Canadian Space Agency - Mr. Sylvain Laporte
Keynote Address from the President of the Canadian Space Agency
Speakers
YF

Yuri Fattah

Programme Manager, ICAO
avatar for Sylvain Laporte

Sylvain Laporte

President, Canadian Space Agency
Sylvain Laporte became President of the Canadian Space Agency in March 2015. He is committed to advancing Canada’s presence in space through satellite, exploration and astronaut missions in the service of science and innovation.From 2011 to 2015 Sylvain was Chief Executive Officer... Read More →
avatar for Lieutenant-Colonel C.J. Marchetti

Lieutenant-Colonel C.J. Marchetti

Director Space Strategy and Plans, Canadian Armed Forces | Government of Canada
LCol Catherine Marchetti was born in Montreal, Quebec and graduated from the RoyalMilitary College of Canada in 1998 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Space Sciences. Sheobtained a Master’s degree in Atmospheric Physics from the University of Toronto a yearlater.After completion of... Read More →

Thursday October 10, 2019 11:00 - 12:00 EDT
Room CR1 ICAO - 999 Boulevard Robert-Bourassa, Montréal, QC H3C 5H10

13:00 EDT

Global Transparency for Industrial Greenhouse Gas Emissions
In 2016, GHGSat launched a demonstration satellite ("Claire") for monitoring greenhouse gas emissions from any industrial site in the world. Claire has proven that it is possible to detect and quantify emissions from oil & gas, power generation, waste management and other sources around the world. Claire will soon be joined by two new GHGSat satellites and an aircraft sensor, all launching within the next 12 months, providing an order-of-magnitude improvement in performance and capacity. GHGSat is collecting all measurements in a new global datastore for greenhouse gas emissions, together with relevant data from third-party satellite and ground sources. This datastore is being used to develop new analytics, such as neural networks to identify emissions plumes and predictive algorithms to identify areas and facilities at high risk of emissions. These innovations are ushering-in a new era of global transparency for industrial greenhouse gas emissions, providing operators, regulators and policy-makers with the insights they need to reduce emissions.
Speakers
avatar for Stéphane Germain

Stéphane Germain

CEO, GHGSat
Stéphane Germain founded GHGSat in 2011 to answer a market need for consistent, high quality measurements of greenhouse gas emissions from industrial facilities worldwide.Mr. Germain has over 25 years of experience in aerospace engineering, project management, and business development... Read More →

Thursday October 10, 2019 13:00 - 13:20 EDT
Room CR2 ICAO - 999 Boulevard Robert-Bourassa, Montréal, QC H3C 5H10
  Space Engineering, Imaging, Satellites

13:00 EDT

Magic in a Light-Polluted Sky
As people with jobs and interests in space and astronomy, we are usually the first to decry light pollution in our urban skies. And rightly so. However, this message has gotten into the public mind and has had a negative impact: most people ignore the urban night sky entirely, unaware that there’s still magic to be seen.
While stars are hard to spot within the city sky, the Moon, the planets, and the International Space Station can be easily seen with the naked eye. 
These are a great launching pad to increase public interest in space and astronomy. But if we want to go beyond and grow this interest, we have to change our messaging.
In this presentation, I’ll talk about the various events, workshops, and telescope-in-the-street public outreach that Plateau Astro has been doing since forming it in spring 2018. I’ll also outline the data I’ve collected about public knowledge of space and astronomy and ways we can do better to connect.
Speakers
avatar for Trevor Kjorlien

Trevor Kjorlien

Founder, Plateau Astro
I am a web designer and an amateur astronomy teacher. Since 2013, I have been doing an event called “Moonrise” on top of Mount Royal where we watch the Full Moon appear over the horizon. In 2017, I received a telescope and began taking it into parks inside the city of Montréal... Read More →

Plateau Astro Magic in a Light Polluted Sky pdf
Thursday October 10, 2019 13:00 - 13:20 EDT
Room CR1 ICAO - 999 Boulevard Robert-Bourassa, Montréal, QC H3C 5H10
  Space Sciences, Astrophysics, Outreach

13:20 EDT

Solar Eruptions, Space Weather, and Heliophysics Missions
Heliophysics is one of the four divisions of NASA science mission directorate, dealing with the Sun and the space environment, in particular space weather, the study of how solar and heliospheric conditions affect Earth’s magnetosphere, upper atmosphere and man-made technology in space and on the ground, including spacecraft failure, auroras and geomagnetically induced currents. Solar eruptions, which occur daily, are the main cause of intense space weather effects, being associated with the majority of intense and extreme geomagnetic storms and energetic particle events. In this talk, I will introduce what we have learnt about solar eruptions from sixty years of space-based observations and present recent development on forecasting their space weather effects. I will conclude with a presentation of some future heliophysics missions and mission concepts, from flagship missions to smallsats and CubeSats, focusing on the advances made possible from miniaturization and cheaper access to space.
Speakers
avatar for Noé Lugaz

Noé Lugaz

Researcher, Catholic University of America
Space physicist focusing on solar eruptions, their interaction and their effect on Earth's magnetosphere. Associate Research Professor at the University of New Hampshire. Editor of Space Weather journal.

Thursday October 10, 2019 13:20 - 13:40 EDT
Room CR1 ICAO - 999 Boulevard Robert-Bourassa, Montréal, QC H3C 5H10
  Space Sciences, Astrophysics, Exoplanets, Imaging

13:40 EDT

A Growing Perspective
We are all born curious and accumulate a deeper understanding of the world as we gain experiences. A perspective of the universe was not something I thought would be relevant when starting university, and through an initial opportunity at Concordia, soon became my whole world. The universe is a captivating mystery that draws many of us to explore and push the frontier of what is possible, and for myself, a mixture of determination and passion fuelled all my contributions. The constant has always been the people that enable such grand projects to come together, as aligning our goals and focusing our efforts is the best way to learn and achieve in this industry. At Space Concordia, I initially worked on the payload for the Aleksandr satellite while knowing close to nothing. As the society grew, we were involved with outreach events, conferences, workshops; all exposing us to a large range of experiences and fields. Once concluding university, I had gained plenty of experience with spacecraft, our first sounding rocket and our first high altitude balloon. I took this momentum to work at Space Flight Laboratory as part of my masters where I decided to focus on thermal systems. Again being exposed to many experts in the fields, we have successful satellites in orbit and more scheduled for the future. Once my duties were completed, I moved back to Montreal and decided to work with Nuvu Cameras, where we are collaborating with the WFIRST mission to integrate our powerful cameras for their spacecraft. My exposure with multiple disciplines is what helps me guide these devices throughout development, while learning from my team on the intricacies of what they have created. Continuously exploring and sharing our progress is how we build perspective in this changing world.
Speakers
avatar for Nicholas Velenosi

Nicholas Velenosi

Space Integration Expert, Nuvu Cameras
I have always been one to follow my passion and throw myself into new challenges assuming I would adapt. I discovered my passion for space later in life, and it had a profound effect on me once I realized a career in that field was not only feasible, but deeply engaging.

Thursday October 10, 2019 13:40 - 14:00 EDT
Room CR2 ICAO - 999 Boulevard Robert-Bourassa, Montréal, QC H3C 5H10
  Space Engineering, Imaging, Satellites

13:40 EDT

Mapping Exoplanet Surfaces with Time-Resolved Photometry using Exocartographer
Exoplanets have been the subject of curiosity and wonder for astronomers and the general public alike since the first discovery of an exoplanet in the 1990s, and their once-elusive characteristics continue to be unveiled with the latest research. Moreover, the advent of more powerful space telescopes such as Kepler, TESS, and Spitzer underscores the integral role of technological breakthroughs in making advancements in exoplanetary science, and as a result, several efforts have been made to inform the design of experiment for future missions. Exocartographer, a Python code written by a group of exoplanet researchers led by Ben Farr (University of Oregon), aims to accomplish this by simulating time-resolved light curve data of an exoplanet and extracting from it the exoplanet’s orbital parameters and an albedo map of its surface. However, this process is still a computational challenge for Exocartographer which must be resolved prior to its use in design experimentation. During this presentation, speaker Emilie Lafleche will detail her summer research with supervisor Nicolas Cowan (McGill University) pertaining to improving the efficiency and function of Exocartographer, and discuss potential groundbreaking implications of mapping exoplanet surfaces with future direct imaging telescopes for the fields of astrobiology, planetary science, and engineering.
Speakers
avatar for Emilie Lafleche

Emilie Lafleche

Summer research intern, student, McGill Space Institute, iREx, McGill University
Emilie is a second-year Honours Planetary Science student at McGill University. Over the course of her studies, she discovered her love of astrobiology and observational astronomy, and has become a youth advocate for space education in her community. She has partnered several times... Read More →

Thursday October 10, 2019 13:40 - 14:00 EDT
Room CR1 ICAO - 999 Boulevard Robert-Bourassa, Montréal, QC H3C 5H10
  Space Sciences, Astrophysics, Exoplanets, Imaging

14:15 EDT

Disrupting Space Governance: Regulation in an Era of Technological and Commercial (R)evolutions
The talk will present the current structure of space governance and the basics of space law, as well as the necessary transformation thereof to meet the challenges of the technological and commercial (r)evolutions that disrupt the old order in favor of opening new horizons. The talk will demonstrate that after an initial period of successful development of space governance featuring institutions building and the adoption of space law treaties, from the early days in the late 1950s to the mid-1970s, space governance, as developed by those institutions, has largely stagnated. This long stagnation is a result of the decline in the rule-making capacity of the main institutions, comparable with the general trend in global affairs. The consequence is that even the most important issues, e.g. space debris, militarization, space traffic control and utilization of space resources, are left insufficiently addressed.

The new technological and commercial developments, notably those of the private sector that is already taking the lead on space exploration, are pushing the boundaries of space law and putting a strain on the outed system of space governance. Only a decentralized model of governance, may address the disruption and the needs of new space actors for regulatory assurances and accepted standards. Indeed, space governance is already on track to become decentralized, increasingly and inevitably, as stakeholders and experts establish forums that suggest, adopt or push for rules and standards. The result is a gradual emergence of numerous decision-making centers (governance centers) producing numerous, partially overlapping, issue-specific regimes. Thus, in a kind of ‘spontaneous order’, space governance may continuously evolve to meet the ever-changing challenges and opportunities of space exploration and exploitation.
Speakers
avatar for Eytan Tepper

Eytan Tepper

Doctoral candidate, McGill Institute of Air and Space Law
Eytan Tepper is completing his doctorate degree at McGill Institute of Air and Space Law and has previous degrees in law and economics. His research focused on space governance, i.e. on how human space activities are steered, notably how the principles and rules applicable to these... Read More →

Thursday October 10, 2019 14:15 - 14:35 EDT
Room CR1 ICAO - 999 Boulevard Robert-Bourassa, Montréal, QC H3C 5H10
  Space Policy & Law

14:15 EDT

SGAC: Canada's Space Generation is Moonbound
Developed by Canadian young professionals and students, the titular theme of the UN Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC) “Canada’s Space Generation is Moonbound” will explore a fusion of thematic areas representative of today’s space industry and its plurality. It has been prominently developed to provide insights into the growing panoramic view of Canada’s modern space sector including its makeup – an evolving genetic identity highlighting the significance of inclusion and diversity, intermixed with diversity of ideas blending technical and non-technical domains. A major highlight is accessibility to space opportunities for the Canadian youth and international outlook for space exploration through sustainable partnerships. At its heart, the core of the session reflects on Canada's heritage in space and its future: the space generation terra firma ripe of collaborative opportunities, leveraging imagination as a pivot to exploration and innovation.

The outputs generated from the session will be consolidated into a report by SGAC. They will be redirected to key stakeholders, including the Canadian Space Agency Canada's Space Advisory Board, as well as internationally to UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN COPUOS), among others.
Moderators
avatar for Joel Gagnon

Joel Gagnon

Special Projects, SG[Canada], Space Generation Advisory Council
Master of Aerospace Engineering student at McGill University.
avatar for Zaid Rana

Zaid Rana

Junior Program Scientist, Canadian Space Agency | SGAC

Speakers
avatar for Morgan Crowley

Morgan Crowley

PhD Candidate in Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University
Morgan Crowley is a Ph.D. Candidate at McGill University in the Department of Natural Resources. In her research, she fuses classifications from multiple satellite sensors to map and analyze wildfire progressions in Canada. All of her research is done in Google Earth Engine in collaboration... Read More →
avatar for Amy Huynh

Amy Huynh

Brooke Owens Fellow, NASA Ames Research Center
avatar for Bethany Downer

Bethany Downer

Scientist-Astronaut candidate, ESA Hubble Public Information & Press Officer
Bethany Downer was born and raised in St. John's, Newfoundland and currently works around the world in the domain of outreach and communications for space. Based in western Europe, she currently manages the outreach of the Hubble Space Telescope for the European Space Agency and is... Read More →
avatar for The Paraboladies

The Paraboladies

Aerospace Medicine Research Group, Eleonor Frost, Lauren Church, Dr. Nina Purvis and Maia Gummer
We are The Paraboladies - a group of 4 women interested in Aerospace Medicine from avariety of backgrounds including medicine, human sciences, and physics. We formed ourteam to partake in the European Student Aerospace Challenge 2018/19(https://www.esa.int/Education/ESA_Academy/Student_Aerospace_Challenge_2018-2019),after... Read More →

Thursday October 10, 2019 14:15 - 15:45 EDT
Room CR2 ICAO - 999 Boulevard Robert-Bourassa, Montréal, QC H3C 5H10
  Space Sciences

14:35 EDT

The Regulation of Rocket Emissions
With the dawn of industries such as space tourism, asteroid mining and space colonization, we are at a critical stage in the commercial use of outer space. A spike in missions indicates a drastic proliferation in the number of rockets launched when such activities become feasible. However, studies have revealed that an increase in rocket launches could cause irreversible environmental damage, including ozone depletion and global warming, due to the chemicals discharged by certain rockets. The effects of pollutants such as black carbon may alter atmospheric circulation and increase surface temperatures. The issue hence demands regulatory attention, as repercussions of increasing rocket launches would far outweigh those of aircraft flights if rocket launches amplify. The need to regulate rocket emissions has been acknowledged by the international legal community, yet the issue continues to evade regulation. My presentation will elaborate on the legal perspective and emphasize the need to adopt an interdisciplinary approach to address this issue.

My presentation introduces the issue by outlining past studies on the environmental impact of rocket emissions. I then discuss the inadequacy of the space treaties, specifically the Outer Space Treaty and the Liability Convention. These provisions demonstrate that there is no obligation on States to persuade their non-State actors, particularly companies venturing into the commercial space arena, to curb emissions or switch to cleaner rocket fuels which discharge less-polluting by-products. I propose legal principles that can be applied, based on a comparative study of international regimes within the aviation and maritime sectors. My conclusion emphasizes that collaboration with the scientific community is imperative, as well as the inclusion of economic and political inputs to design a successful mechanism to regulate rocket emissions.
Speakers
NR

Nivedita Raju

LLM Student, McGill University
I am an LLM candidate and Arsenault Fellow at the McGill Institute of Air and Space Law. My LLM Thesis explores the need to regulate rocket emissions in light of adverse environmental impact. My interests in space law focus on the sustainability of outer space and permissible military... Read More →

Thursday October 10, 2019 14:35 - 14:55 EDT
Room CR1 ICAO - 999 Boulevard Robert-Bourassa, Montréal, QC H3C 5H10
  Space Policy & Law, Launch Capabilities

14:55 EDT

Freedom of Movement as a Human Right in "the Province of all Mankind"
As the Outer Space Treaty (OST) enters its sixth decade, an evolved understanding of its ‘province provision’ at Article I is proposed. This Article declaring that the “exploration and use of outer space . . . shall be the province of all mankind” has the potential to be interpreted literally, with the full territorial implications ordinarily associated with the word “province”. This interpretation is based not only on the ordinary meaning of the word province, but primarily on the long associations of the activities of both “exploration” and “use” with territorial appropriation under international law.

This proposed ‘territorial conception’ of the province provision sees humankind as an emerging subject of international law appropriating those areas of outer space where humanity ventures. The result of which being that those regions of space where the human species extends its presence comprise the literal “province of all mankind”, with ultimate title and residual sovereignty over territory explored and utilised invested in all of humankind. Importantly this interpretation presents no conflict with Article II of the OST, which prohibits only “national appropriation” of outer space and not appropriation by humankind itself.

As every human being is collectively a member of humankind, sharing territorial title over all areas of outer space subject to its “exploration and use”, all persons should be guaranteed as a human right freedom of movement throughout humankind's province. The eventual development of such an open border regime could become one of the most unique and important governance features of outer space. For it ensures that unlike here on Earth, the ability to migrate, settle and work in space is not entirely dependent on the “birthright lottery” of nationality. For in “the province of all mankind” no human should ever be considered “illegal”.
Speakers
AS

Andrew Simon-Butler

Legal Researcher, Melbourne Social Equity Institute - University of Melbourne
Andrew is an Ontarian Barrister and Solicitor, Australian Lawyer and Australian Registered Migration Agent. His research focus is the forthcoming intersection of international migration law and international space law governing the future human settlement of outer space. Andrew has... Read More →

Thursday October 10, 2019 14:55 - 15:15 EDT
Room CR1 ICAO - 999 Boulevard Robert-Bourassa, Montréal, QC H3C 5H10
  Space Policy & Law

16:20 EDT

Planetary Exploration with Robot Teams
Planetary exploration with robot teams
Since the beginning of space exploration, Mars and the Moon have been explored with orbiters, landers, and rovers. Over forty missions have targeted Mars, and more than a hundred, the Moon. Developing novel strategies and technologies for exploring celestial bodies continues to be a focus of space agencies. Multi-robot systems are particularly promising for planetary exploration, as they are more robust to individual failure and have the potential to explore larger areas; however, there are limits to how many robots an operator can individually control. We recently took part in the European Space Agency’s interdisciplinary equipment test campaign (PANGAEA-X) at a Lunar/Mars analog site in Lanzarote, Spain. 
We used a heterogeneous fleet of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)—a swarm—to study the interplay of systems operations and human factors. Human operators directed the swarm via ad-hoc networks and data sharing protocols to explore unknown areas under two control modalities: one in which the operator instructed each robot separately; and the other in which the operator provided general guidance to the swarm, which self-organized via a combination of distributed decision-making, and consensus-building.

For each condition, we assessed cognitive load via pupillometry and perceived task demand and intuitiveness via self-report. Our results show that implementing higher autonomy with swarm intelligence can reduce workload, freeing the operator for other tasks such as overseeing strategy, and communication. Future work will further leverage advances in swarm intelligence for exploration missions.
Speakers
avatar for Marcel Kaufmann

Marcel Kaufmann

PhD Candidate, Polytechnique Montreal, MIST Lab
Marcel is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Computer Engineering with the "Making Innovative Space Technologies” Laboratory at Polytechnique Montreal. He is focusing on multi-robot systems, swarm technologies and human-robot interaction. He holds a B.Sc. and an M.Sc. degree in Photonics... Read More →

Thursday October 10, 2019 16:20 - 16:40 EDT
Room CR1 ICAO - 999 Boulevard Robert-Bourassa, Montréal, QC H3C 5H10
  Space Exploration, Artificial Intelligence

16:40 EDT

ÉPPÉ: A Microsatellite Mission Concept to Characterize Exoplanets
ÉPPÉ (Extrasolar Planet Polarimetry Explorer / Explorateur polarimétrique des planètes extrasolaires) is a proposed concept for a microsatellite mission that would use time-resolved differential polarimetry to characterize known exoplanets (hot Jupiters, Neptunes, super Earths) and serve as a pathfinder for spectropolarimetric exoplanet biomarker detection. Exoplanet characterization is a top astrophysical science priority as enunciated by the NASA Exoplanet Exploration Program, the CASCA (Canadian Astronomical Society) 2011–2020 Long Range Plan, the Space Astronomy Origins and Planetary Systems Astrobiology topical team reports of the CSEW (Canadian Space Exploration Workshop), and ESA Cosmic Vision 2015-2025.

One of the limitations of current and future precision transit photometry and spectroscopy is that clouds and hazes prohibit spectroscopic feature detection. Vetting of a prospective exoplanet target prior to investing observation resources for detailed spectroscopy is therefore critical. The differential polarimetry capabilities of ÉPPÉ would be uniquely sensitive to polarized scattered light (dust, clouds, haze). So far, ground-based polarimeters have struggled to reach the 1 part-per-million level of precision required to detect scattered light from an exoplanet. By going to a dawn-dusk, Sun-synchronous orbit, we nearly eliminate the two major suspects for uncalibrated instrumental noise in ground-based measurements: the thermal stability of the optical setup and flexure of the optics at different telescope orientations.

The notional ÉPPÉ concept consists of a polarimetry instrumentation payload with a 30 cm aperture operating in the 300-800 nm band from a 180 kg class spacecraft in low-Earth orbit. ÉPPÉ is currently being advanced under a concept study funded by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA). In addition to defining the science requirements and developing technical concepts for the mission, spacecraft, and payload, planning for education and public outreach is also an integral component of the study.
Speakers
avatar for Taylor James Bell

Taylor James Bell

Graduate Student, McGill University
I am a PhD student at McGill university studying exoplanet atmospheres under the supervision of Professor Nicolas Cowan. While I'm an astronomer and primarily use space-based telescopes, I have had little knowledge of space technology and design before a year ago when I started my... Read More →

EPPE MSS pdf
Thursday October 10, 2019 16:40 - 17:00 EDT
Room CR1 ICAO - 999 Boulevard Robert-Bourassa, Montréal, QC H3C 5H10
  Space Exploration, Astrophysics, Exoplanets, Imaging

17:00 EDT

Lunar Technologies - Design Challenges
MPB Communications Inc. has been involved in Space R&D projects for over 40 years, building optical payloads for satellites, rovers and rockets. Currently, MPBC is developing key technologies to aid lunar exploration, notably including two projects: Lunar Cubesat Mission (VMMO “Ice Mapper”) and Dusty Thermal Vacuum Chamber (DTVAC). The VMMO Volatiles and Mineralogy Mapping Orbiter is a low-cost 12U lunar Cubesat being developed with CSA and ESA for mapping water-ice and other volatiles within permanently shadowed craters near lunar south pole using MPBC’s fiber laser technologies at 532 nm and 1560 nm. DTVAC was designed and built as a planetary environment simulator for Canadian Space Agency that simultaneously combines a controlled dust simulant shower in vacuum with simulated solar illumination and thermal control of the test device from below -196°C to above +120°C. The feasibility of liquid-helium cooling of a small platen with lunar regolith to about 40 K was also demonstrated, simulating temperatures relevant to permanently shadowed regions on the moon. Both of these projects present significant design challenges that are discussed in this presentation.
Speakers
avatar for Piotr Murzionak

Piotr Murzionak

Mechanical Designer, MPB Communications Inc.
Mr. Piotr Murzionak has a Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering from Carleton University (Ottawa, Canada) and a Master’s degree in Space Studies from International Space University (Strasbourg, France). He joined Space Photonics R&D division of MPB Communications Inc. in... Read More →

Thursday October 10, 2019 17:00 - 17:20 EDT
Room CR1 ICAO - 999 Boulevard Robert-Bourassa, Montréal, QC H3C 5H10
  Space Exploration, Imaging, Satellites
 
Friday, October 11
 

09:00 EDT

Biological Life Support System - Future Direction
Long-duration space exploration, including travel to the Moon and Mars with semi-permanent colonization, will require plant production for human consumption. However, plant growth in space includes many unique challenges. With the inclusion of the Veggie plant growth system on the ISS, NASA has taken an interest in using plants for biological life support for food, water and air recovery. However, to date most trials have obtained plant yields that are orders of magnitude lower than for earth-based production. Large challenges remain as technologies are developed that can bridge this yield gap. This talk will provide an overview of the challenges and direction of the plant growth research and future plans to move this research forward.
Speakers
avatar for Mark Lefsrud

Mark Lefsrud

Associate Professor, McGill University
Dr. Mark Lefsrud, an Associate Professor at McGill University leads the Biomass Production Laboratory. His upbringing on a farm and work in the oil fields of Alberta, Canada combined with his B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Agricultural and Bioresource Engineering and a Ph.D. in Plant Physiology... Read More →

Friday October 11, 2019 09:00 - 09:20 EDT
Room CR1 ICAO - 999 Boulevard Robert-Bourassa, Montréal, QC H3C 5H10
  Life beyond Earth, Space Engineering, Space Sciences

09:00 EDT

A day in the life of Spacecraft Thermal Control Engineer
What is it like to work in the Space industry? This presentation covers a typical day for a spacecraft thermal control engineer. It describes the challenges, engineering decisions, communications and work encountered in a typical day.

Attendees exploring a future in the space industry will come away with a better understanding of this particular field to inform their career and education choices.
Speakers
avatar for Dr. Chris Pye

Dr. Chris Pye

Vice President, Maya HTT
Dr. Pye has been with Maya HTT for over 30 years and has been involved in the Space industry for even longer. He has worked on over 20 space missions for Canadian and other customers, mostly in the area of thermal control. During his time at Maya HTT he has also worked as a software... Read More →

Friday October 11, 2019 09:00 - 09:20 EDT
Room CR2 ICAO - 999 Boulevard Robert-Bourassa, Montréal, QC H3C 5H10
  Space Engineering

09:20 EDT

Chasing Water on Mars with Lasers
The NASA Curiosity rover recently detected a high concentration of boron for the first time on Mars, in veins within rocks of Gale crater. These veins are possible evidence for groundwater circulation and indicate presence of water in regions protected from cosmic radiations, for longer periods after surface water evaporated, thus expanding the previously perceived window for when life might have existed on Mars. On Earth, borates stabilize ribose, the simple sugar that forms the backbone of ribonucleic acid (RNA). Therefore, borates may have facilitated a key step in RNA formation on early Earth. On Mars, presence of boron in a long-lived hydrologic system suggests that important prebiotic chemical reactions could have occurred in the groundwater. With the recent discovery of organic molecules on Mars, in addition to that of boron, the question of whether life might have originated or existed on Mars is a lot more opportune. In order to better interpret Martian rover data, it is key to study well-understood terrestrial formations similar to Gale crater. The objectives of this project are to investigate borate deposits in California as analogues to explain mobilization of boron in Gale crater and to forward the search for new boron rich regions on Mars. The results of this project are expected to further our understanding of habitability and aqueous processes of Mars, improve analytical techniques on the Curiosity rover and maximize scientific returns of the Mars 2020 mission.
Speakers
avatar for Debarati Das

Debarati Das

Graduate Student, McGill University
I am a second year graduate student at the Earth and Planetary Science department at McGill University. I am also a member of NASA's Mars Science Laboratory and I work on understanding geochemistry and habitability of Mars using data from the Curiosity rover. A part of my research... Read More →

Friday October 11, 2019 09:20 - 09:40 EDT
Room CR1 ICAO - 999 Boulevard Robert-Bourassa, Montréal, QC H3C 5H10
  Life beyond Earth, Astrobiology, Space Sciences

09:20 EDT

RADARSAT-2 Operations – 11+ Years of Good Times
Satellite operations presents a wide range of challenges as an Earth-based team operates and maintains a spacecraft in orbit that they cannot see or touch. Engineers need to respond to new issues in real time as well as anticipate future problems by proactively monitoring spacecraft health and preparing detailed response plans and products. The RADARSAT-2 mission, which has been successfully operated at the Canadian Space Agency for over 11 years, has many examples of how operations staff have responded to and anticipated new challenges. An overview of the RADARSAT-2 operations philosophy will be presented, bringing together a team with various skill sets and various horizon to address challenging issues along with a summary of the most interesting challenges encountered and overcome during the mission thus far.
Speakers
avatar for Casey Lambert

Casey Lambert

Senior Satellite System Engineer, MDA
Responsible for the system Enginnering of RADARSAT-2 and RCM missions

Friday October 11, 2019 09:20 - 09:40 EDT
Room CR2 ICAO - 999 Boulevard Robert-Bourassa, Montréal, QC H3C 5H10
  Space Engineering, Satellites

09:40 EDT

Data Fusion and Multivariate Analysis: A Tool for the Identification of Clay Minerals During in-situ Planetary Exploration
Clay minerals present an opportunity to satisfy NASA’s primary objective of determining whether life ever arose on Mars and are recognized as high-priority targets for future missions. Clay minerals form by chemical interactions between liquid water and rock and are thus key markers of environments that may have been warm, wet, and habitable in the past. Further, clays have a demonstrated capacity to preserve chemical and morphological fossil and have even been implicated in the abiogenesis of life on Earth.
However, the exact identification of clay minerals by conventional analytical methods is complicated and often inaccurate. Analytical issues are associated with the ultrafine grain size, the compositional variability, and the structural disorders that are common amongst clay minerals. It is therefore necessary to develop a rapid analysis technique for clay properties so that upcoming exploration rovers can be reliably guided towards high-priority clay-bearing targets.
We investigate a technique known as data fusion, in which the information collected from two spectroscopic techniques, namely, laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and Raman spectroscopy (RS), will be combined into a single data-set. This methodology is founded on the basic premise that aggregating information from multiple sources offers more relevant knowledge about a sample and yields more specific, refined inferences (classifications with less error and predictions with less uncertainty) than an individual source acting alone. LIBS and RS are well-suited for this task as they provide complimentary information: LIBS records the elemental composition while RS reveals molecular structures. We hypothesize that exploiting the synergistic nature of LIBS and RLS through data fusion techniques will enable definitive mineral phase identification and produce clay mineral classification models with lower uncertainty, higher reliability, and improved interpretability because the uncertain identity of a target that arises from the molecular features may be clarified by the chemical profile, and vice versa.
Speakers
EG

Erin Gibbons

PhD Student, McGill University
Erin is a PhD student of Earth and Planetary Science at McGill University. She is working as a student science collaborator with NASA's current exploration rover, Curiosity, and hopes to collaborate on upcoming missions. Her research is dedicated to improving the operativity of laser-based... Read More →

Friday October 11, 2019 09:40 - 10:00 EDT
Room CR1 ICAO - 999 Boulevard Robert-Bourassa, Montréal, QC H3C 5H10
  Life beyond Earth, Astrobiology, Space Sciences

09:40 EDT

RCM Preparation for Launch and Early operation
On June 12 SpaceX launched the RADARSAT Constellation Mission (RCM), a trio of radar earth observation satellites built by MDA for the Canadian Space Agency, continuing Canada’s legacy as a pioneering innovator in synthetic aperture radar technologies. Behind this launch was years of preparation by the satellite operations team, a highly interdisciplinary group of people ranging from spacecraft engineers to software engineers to image scientists. Together they developed and tested software and procedures to control the satellite using a complex system spanning across the globe from the North West Territories to Antarctica (and of course, space). This talk will explain how the operations team prepared for the launch and walk through the early stages of operations leading to the first images on the satellites. It will also detail the particular complexities and challenges faced in the early stages of the mission and explain how the operations team was able to successfully overcome these challenges towards a successful mission.
Speakers
avatar for Bryn Orth-Lashley

Bryn Orth-Lashley

Systems Engineer, MDA
Bryn is a Systems Engineer on the MDA Flight Operations team that operates the recently launched RADARSAT Constellation Mission (RCM), a trio of Earth observation satellites built by MDA for the Canadian Space Agency. After entering the space industry in 2015 developing software for... Read More →

Friday October 11, 2019 09:40 - 10:00 EDT
Room CR2 ICAO - 999 Boulevard Robert-Bourassa, Montréal, QC H3C 5H10
  Space Engineering, Satellites

10:30 EDT

University Competitions: Launching Your Career into Space
Speakers
avatar for Lawrence Reeves

Lawrence Reeves

President, CSDCMS
I'm the President of the not-for-profit society which offers and manages the Canadian Satellite Design Challenge. I'm also the Owner/President of Geocentrix Technologies Ltd., and offer technical consulting to the space industry on various mission-related topics. My background is... Read More →

Friday October 11, 2019 10:30 - 10:50 EDT
Room CR1 ICAO - 999 Boulevard Robert-Bourassa, Montréal, QC H3C 5H10
  Space Awareness, Satellites, Space Engineering

10:50 EDT

Launch Canada Rocketry Association
People often think of innovation as coming from either industry or academia, but from Robert Goddard to Wernher von Braun to many of today’s leading rocket entrepreneurs, the history of aerospace has been shaped by people who began as amateurs. Countries that recognize and support this grassroots talent and create an ecosystem in which it can thrive can harness an unmatched drive and passion to learn and innovate, at very little cost, and this has been proven time and time again.

Here in Canada, there is an unprecedented surge of grassroots interest in rocketry, particularly among students. The space launch industry is changing rapidly, driven by game-changing companies like SpaceX and RocketLab, and Canadians want to be a part of it. There are now around 20 student rocket teams across the country, many of them undertaking cutting-edge sounding rocket work, and regularly winning a disproportionate number of the top honours at major international rocket competitions.

Yet many of them face a relative lack of support in Canada. They have few options to pursue their rocketry work at home, and few avenues available for support. Often these exceptionally bright, motivated Canadians have no choice but to either abandon their passion, or leave the country. In an increasingly competitive high-tech economy, Canada cannot afford to keep losing this talent.

The Launch Canada Rocketry Association aims to change this by helping Canada’s rocket innovators to pursue their activities, collaborate, learn and thrive. We are working to promote safety in advanced rocketry and are creating Canada’s first-ever advanced rocketry competition to incentivize the development of significant rocket propulsion and launch vehicle technologies with a bold, entrepreneurial mindset. It will help develop a pipeline of highly skilled, knowledgeable and experienced aerospace professionals through challenging hands-on rocket engineering projects and will use the excitement of rocketry to promote STEM education.
Speakers
avatar for Adam Trumpour

Adam Trumpour

President, Launch Canada Rocketry Association
Adam is a rocket and gas turbine propulsion professional with broad involvement in the industry. He is a turbine engine concept designer at Pratt & Whitney Canada and a founding partner of Continuum Aerospace, a small company devoted to engineering consulting and developing innovative... Read More →

Friday October 11, 2019 10:50 - 11:10 EDT
Room CR1 ICAO - 999 Boulevard Robert-Bourassa, Montréal, QC H3C 5H10
  Space Awareness, Space Engineering, Student Involvements, Launch Capabilities

11:10 EDT

Changing Perspectives
Bureaucracy can be a tough battle for space technology. Through the story of new rocket engine design team, this talk details the struggle to help administration understand why deeply complex, expensive, and potentially dangerous technology is worth investing in, and why effective communication and activism in space technology is essential for the space industry to grow in Canada.
Speakers
avatar for Balin Moher

Balin Moher

Founder & Former Director, Ryerson Propulsion Group
Founder and Former Director of the Ryerson Propulsion Group, a student led engineering design team focused around the development of a 350 pound rocket engine (Founded in July 2018). Recent graduate of the undergraduate Aerospace Engineering program at Ryerson University. Active member... Read More →

Friday October 11, 2019 11:10 - 11:30 EDT
Room CR1 ICAO - 999 Boulevard Robert-Bourassa, Montréal, QC H3C 5H10
  Space Awareness, Space Engineering, Student Involvements, Launch Capabilities

11:10 EDT

Space Research Facilities and Activities at the Aerospace Research Center of National Research Council Canada
The aerospace industry of Canada is vibrant, innovative and complex, with a rich history and elite reputation on a global stage. The Aerospace Research Center of National Research Council Canada (NRC) supports this important industry with facilities, expertise and industry foresight to develop fresh ideas and new technologies, demonstrate new products and processes that target the market challenges faced by the Canadian and global aeronautics and space sectors.

NRC has significant experience and expertise in R&D of space technologies and systems. This paper presents space related research activities and facilities at the NRC Aerospace Research Center. Facilities for space dynamic environmental simulation and testing include a large reverberant chamber for acoustic qualification of full-scale spacecraft and large satellite structures to the launch noise environment; a 10k lb(f) electromechanical shaker table for vibration environmental testing and qualification of spacecraft structures and components; two aircraft, a Falcon-20 business jet and a T-33 trainer, for simulation of the space microgravity environment through parabolic flights. In addition, NRC Aerospace performs extensive research in space technologies to provide technical support to Canadian space industry. These include advanced capabilities in modal test and analysis of full-scale spacecraft and structures; shock modeling and simulation of spacecraft structures; development of control treatments and approaches to improve noise transmission loss in aerospace composite structures; analysis of the impact probability of spacecraft by micrometeorites and orbital debris in low earth orbit etc.

In summary, NRC Aerospace has the facilities and knowledge for development of novel techniques and approaches to meet new mission requirements in support the programs and needs of Canadian space industry, OGDs as well as international partners.
Speakers
EC

Eric Chen

Senior Research Officer, Aerospace, National Research Council Canada
Dr. Chen is a senior research officer at the Aerospace Research Center of the National Research Council Canada. He is the test director of the NRC national large spacecraft acoustic facility. His expertise include structural dynamics, vibration analysis and control, acoustics, smart... Read More →

Friday October 11, 2019 11:10 - 11:30 EDT
Room CR2 ICAO - 999 Boulevard Robert-Bourassa, Montréal, QC H3C 5H10
  Space Engineering

12:30 EDT

Life beyond Earth Panel
Reunion between several experts from various disciplines who contribute to the quest for Life beyond Earth.

Speakers
avatar for Dr. Richard Léveillé

Dr. Richard Léveillé

Adjunct professor, Earth and Planetary Sciences, McGill University | McGill Space Institute
Planetary scientist and geology professor at McGill University and John Abbott College. Mars Science Laboratory Participating Scientist. Founding member and co-lead of the Canadian Astrobiology Network. Former Canadian Space Agency research scientist. Searching for life on Mars and... Read More →
avatar for Frédérique Baron

Frédérique Baron

Scientific and EPO coordinator, Institut de recherche sur les exoplanètes (iREx)
DP

Dianea Phillips

Aerospace Educator
Dianea Carroll Phillips currently is an Educational Consultant with the Lester B. Pearson School Board in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. She holds a Bachelor of Education degree from McGill University and is a Canadian Hilroy Award Winner. Ms. Phillips has worked as a teacher and teaching... Read More →
avatar for Brian Ewenson

Brian Ewenson

Executive Director, Aerospace Educator, Spaceport Sheboygan
Brian Ewenson is an Aerospace Educator, Consultant and Professional Speaker, on Aviation and Aerospace. He was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada and speaks multiple languages. He has presented to more than 250,000 people in the past 20 years at schools, museums, science centers, community... Read More →
avatar for Étienne Artigau

Étienne Artigau

Senior Research Associate, Université de Montréal
I am an astrophysicist working on the detection of exoplanets through near-infrared observations. I am the project scientist of two near-infrared spectrographs (SPIROU, NIRPS) developped for observatories in Hawaii and Chile. Visit my iREx webpage for some more info on my work.See... Read More →

Friday October 11, 2019 12:30 - 14:00 EDT
Room CR2 ICAO - 999 Boulevard Robert-Bourassa, Montréal, QC H3C 5H10
  Life beyond Earth

14:30 EDT

Beyond the Rocket Science; The Challenges of Launch Vehicle Start-ups in Canada
As if developing a rocket to fly to orbit weren’t hard enough, for-profit entities attempting to make a business from launch-as-a-service face incredible challenges that are tangentially related to the engineering or, often, not at all. This piece will dive into the developmental and operational challenges faced by commercial launch organizations globally, and those specific to Canadian organizations. The global challenges of launch vehicle development and operation will be covered first. This includes the challenges associated with regulatory compliance, with launch vehicle safety, and with defining a competitive business model in the overcrowded small-launch market. The challenges specific to Canadian launch businesses will be covered following that. These challenges include a lack of resources, a lack of experience, lack of launch sites, lack of regulatory oversight, and myopic venture capital funding. The talk concludes by looking at potential ways forward and the political and economic ramifications of launch from Canada.
Speakers
avatar for Neil Woodcock

Neil Woodcock

Chief Operations Officer, Reaction Dynamics
Neil Woodcock is the Chief Operations Officer of Reaction Dynamics, a Canadian startup intending to manufacture and operate small satellite launch vehicles. He previously worked as the Space Concordia Rocketry Division’s technical lead and as Space Concordia’s President. He obtained... Read More →

Friday October 11, 2019 14:30 - 14:50 EDT
Room CR1 ICAO - 999 Boulevard Robert-Bourassa, Montréal, QC H3C 5H10
  Launch Capabilites, Business, Space Engineering, Space Awareness

14:30 EDT

IAD2019 – A Collaborative Public Outreach Initiative
On May 11, 2019 Astronomy in Montreal was celebrated during the International Astronomy Day festivities at the Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium. Over two dozen Astronomy societies, student clubs, outreach groups, artists and companies partnered to provide 30 free public activities to an audience of 1500 visitors over a scheduled 12 hour period, overlapping with the 24 Hours of Science and Science Odyssey initiatives. This event was first conceived in discussions at the 2018 Montreal Space Symposium and included participation from more than a dozen post-secondary student groups in the Greater Montreal Area.

The Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium and the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC) Montreal Centre co-organized the event and will present the vision, activities, and feedback from this pilot event. An outline of next year’s possible format and theme will be discussed, with areas for returning partners to take the lead and new partners to bring their ideas and activities to this collaborative event.
Speakers
avatar for Karim Jaffer

Karim Jaffer

Student, John Abbott College
I have been at John Abbott College (JAC) since 2006 teaching a variety of Physics and Pathways courses, and began teaching the Introductory Astronomy course in 2016 - including the coordination of Astronomy observing activities, outreach, and all Astronomy-related projects in various... Read More →
avatar for Dr Olivier Hernandez

Dr Olivier Hernandez

Directeur, Planétarium Rio Tinto Alcan
Astrophysicien

Friday October 11, 2019 14:30 - 14:50 EDT
Room CR2 ICAO - 999 Boulevard Robert-Bourassa, Montréal, QC H3C 5H10
  Outreach, Space Awareness

14:50 EDT

Black Brant Sounding Rockets: 60 Years of Going Beyond
This year marks the 60th anniversary of Canada’s first venture into space, the inaugural launch of the Black Brant I sounding rocket on September 5th, 1959, which took place three years before the launch of the first Canadian satellite Alouette 1. That first Black Brant was launched from the Churchill Research Range (CRR) in Northern Manitoba, carrying a 100 kg payload to an altitude of 100 km. Since 1962, more than 1,000 Black Brants have been launched with a vehicle success rate of 98.7% (99.4% since 1982) – an extraordinary engineering achievement.

Although there has not been a Canadian sounding rocket mission since 2000, Black Brants remain the suborbital vehicle of choice for interdisciplinary space researchers worldwide. NASA typically flies 12-15 Black Brant rockets annually and has been doing this regularly since 1971. Other potential international users have expressed an interest in the Black Brant for their future suborbital missions, and the rocket motors have been continuously being upgraded to incorporate new materials and novel manufacturing processes, as well to improve the overall performance of the vehicle.

Depending on the configuration, the Black Brant can carry payloads up to 850 kg in mass to altitudes up to 1,500 km and provide up to 20 minutes of microgravity. The vehicle could be used to give cubesat hardware a suborbital flight opportunity, increase the technology readiness level (TRL) of new space technologies, calibrate satellite instruments by taking concurrent measurements, and perform interdisciplinary scientific research such as microgravity experiments, auroral studies, astronomical observations, and other investigations.

Sixty years after its first flight, the Black Brant stands ready to once again provide Canadian engineers and scientists in government, academia, and industry with a responsive and cost-effective platform for suborbital missions to advance interdisciplinary scientific investigations and technology capability demonstrations.
Speakers
avatar for Eric Choi

Eric Choi

Senior Business Development Manager, Magellan Aerospace
Eric Choi is the senior business development manager for the space business unit of Magellan Aerospace. Over the course of his career, he has held positions of increasing technical and managerial responsibility in both the aviation and space sectors, the latter including work on QEYSSat... Read More →

Friday October 11, 2019 14:50 - 15:10 EDT
Room CR1 ICAO - 999 Boulevard Robert-Bourassa, Montréal, QC H3C 5H10
  Launch Capabilites, Space Awareness, Space Engineering

14:50 EDT

Space Advocacy in Canada
This presentation will discuss recent, current, and upcoming space advocacy activities in Canada. What is space advocacy? How does the space community engage with government? How can the general public get involved? What role do students play? And what needs to be done? These are all questions that attendees of the Montreal Space Symposium need to think about if they want to have a hand in ensuring that Canada's future in space is as bright as it can be.
Speakers
avatar for Kate Howells

Kate Howells

Global Community Outreach Manager, The Planetary Society,
Kate Howells is a member of the Government of Canada’s Space Advisory Board and Global Community Outreach Manager at The Planetary Society, an organization that aims to empower people around the world to become involved in advancing space exploration. Kate Howells works with The... Read More →

Friday October 11, 2019 14:50 - 15:10 EDT
Room CR2 ICAO - 999 Boulevard Robert-Bourassa, Montréal, QC H3C 5H10
  Outreach, Space Awareness

15:10 EDT

New Space and the role of predictive multi-physics modelling
The continually increasing availability of computational resources has completely upended the field of aviation. These predictive tools are essential to the successful design of modern commercial aircrafts as they allow for the exploration of new design spaces, reduce reliance on experimental tests, and permit an assessment of aerodynamic performance within the preliminary design stages. This greatly reduces both time and cost for the development of new aircrafts. A similar integration of numerical predictive tools has yet to take a strong foothold in the field of rocket propulsion and aerodynamics, primarily due to the inherent complexity of the multi-physics interactions in rocket sub-systems. In many of the most prominent commercial space companies, predictive modelling tools are only used for simple design decision or for a posteriori analyses. Within the emerging paradigm of New Space—where cost reduction is driving innovation—predictive computational tools are called to take a more prominent role. The present talk will highlight some of the contributions of our research group towards modelling of complex heat transfer, acoustics, thermal protection systems, and guidance and control systems applied to rocket propulsion systems.
Speakers
JH

Jean-Pierre Hickey

Assistant Professor, University of Waterloo
Jean-Pierre is an Assistant Professor in Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering and heads the Multi-Physics Interaction Lab at the University of Waterloo. His research interests lies in the simulation and modelling of complex flows involving turbulence, acoustics, non-ideal thermodynamics... Read More →

Friday October 11, 2019 15:10 - 15:30 EDT
Room CR1 ICAO - 999 Boulevard Robert-Bourassa, Montréal, QC H3C 5H10
  Launch Capabilites, Space Engineering

15:10 EDT

Public Outreach: Bringing Astronomy to Montrealers - RASC Montreal Centre
The Montreal Centre of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC) is comprised of approximately 175 amateur astronomers. As a group we obviously enjoy observing and exploring the night sky in a socially friendly environment, and as a second component of our mandate for over a century we host events and deliver activities in the Greater Montreal Area to share our passion of astronomy with the public. Over the past decades, these free public events provided by RASC Montreal Centre have been joined by a host of initiatives by other local clubs, organizations, and even private individuals…all with an aim to share our wonder, knowledge and experiences in Astronomy and Space Sciences with the general public. In this talk we will present an overview of the RASC Montreal Centre offerings, as well as a look at some of these various initiatives from outside traditional academia. Whether you call it public outreach or sidewalk astronomy, the net effect has been a rebirth of interest in the night sky within the Montreal region and beyond amongst the general public.
Speakers
avatar for Karim Jaffer

Karim Jaffer

Student, John Abbott College
I have been at John Abbott College (JAC) since 2006 teaching a variety of Physics and Pathways courses, and began teaching the Introductory Astronomy course in 2016 - including the coordination of Astronomy observing activities, outreach, and all Astronomy-related projects in various... Read More →
avatar for Morrie Portnoff

Morrie Portnoff

President, RASC, Montreal Centre
I have been the President of the Montreal Centre of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada for the past 5 years. Prior that that I was the Treasurer for for 2 years as well as the Editor of the Centre's newsletter, Skyward. Observing the night sky is a passion which I love to share... Read More →

Friday October 11, 2019 15:10 - 15:30 EDT
Room CR2 ICAO - 999 Boulevard Robert-Bourassa, Montréal, QC H3C 5H10
  Outreach, Space Sciences, Social Sciences

16:20 EDT

Design and 3D printing of a high performance thermoplastic lunar rover
Mohammad Rafiee, PHD, Clément Broggi, MSc
Design and 3D printing of a high performance thermoplastic lunar rover
3D printing is on verge to become a powerful way of manufacturing. Using a printer, one is able to produce complex parts, optimized for a specific application and thus with a lower mass. The Fused Deposition Modelling process is cheap and allow to produce parts it would be impossible to manufacture using traditional means. However, thermoplastics -commonly used material- do not possess, most of the time, the mechanicals properties required to 3D print structural parts and to be of interest for space applications. Some new high-performance thermoplastic composites could be a game changer.
This talk focus on the design and manufacturing of a lunar rover, printed in a high-performance thermoplastic, in partnership with the Canadian Space Agency. Lunar rovers and space parts in general, are made from aluminium because of its mechanical, thermal, and radiation properties. Composites could be a material of choice to lower the mass of the rover, provide better thermal insulation, and tailor properties to the requirements of the mission.   3D printing could allow designing a structure capable of surviving to the moon environment by reducing the amount of inserts and bolts, therefore reducing mass, but also reducing potential path of heat loss.
After a quick presentation of 3D printing, the design strategy will be explained. Finally, the up to date rover concept will be presented.
Speakers
avatar for Mohammad Rafiee

Mohammad Rafiee

Postdoctoral Fellow, Polytechnique Montréal
Mohammad Rafiee received his Ph.D. degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Ottawa in 2018. Currently, he is a Postdoctoral Fellow at Polytechnique Montreal in Canada. His research interests are primarily focused on the development of advanced composite materials, smart... Read More →
CB

Clement Broggi

Master student, Polytechnique Montréal
Mechanical EngineeringHe is a french master student at Polytechnique Montréal doing his master at the LM2 (laboratoire de mécanique multi-échelles) on the 3D printing of high-performance thermoplastics for space applications. In France, Clément was an engineer student of Arts... Read More →

Friday October 11, 2019 16:20 - 16:40 EDT
Room CR1 ICAO - 999 Boulevard Robert-Bourassa, Montréal, QC H3C 5H10
  Space Exploration, Space Engineering, Materials

16:40 EDT

Development of Health Technologies for Deep Space Missions
Since the 1960s, astronauts have pushed the radii of space exploration, putting the human body to the test while exposing themselves to challenging environmental factors. Asspace missions grow longer and more ambitious, health-monitoring becomes a primary factor in planning. The announcement of the The Lunar Orbital Platform-Gateway (LOP-G), commonly referred to as the Lunar Gateway, has created a need for development of healthcare innovation that will monitor health of astronauts through Deep Space missions with less reliance on Earth. Let us explore the recent advancements in health technologies and project currently underway. What are the benefits of these innovations for space travel? What human factors are we most concerned about? Do these innovations provide any benefit to the quality of life on Earth?
Speakers
AS

Amanda Spilkin

Founder, Space Health Division at Space Concordia
Currently completing her Masters in Physics, specializing in Brain Imaging and founded the Space Health Division Concordia University. The Space Health Project consists of using lab-on-a-chip technology to study the human immune response in simulated space environment.

Friday October 11, 2019 16:40 - 17:00 EDT
Room CR2 ICAO - 999 Boulevard Robert-Bourassa, Montréal, QC H3C 5H10
  Human Sciences, Space Exploration

16:40 EDT

High-Performance Thermoplastics for Lunar Exploration
Arthur Lassus, Teodora Gancheva, Nick Virgilio and B.D. Favis

CREPEC, Department of Chemical Engineering, Polytechnique Montreal

High-Performance Thermoplastics for Lunar Exploration

Over the last decade, advanced engineering thermoplastics (polyether ether ketones (PEEKs), polyetherimides (PEIs), etc.) have received increased attention and interest for automotive, energies, aeronautic and aerospace applications. In these domains, high-performance thermoplastics are being developed to bring lightness in combination with exceptional mechanical, thermal and chemical properties. For spatial and/or lunar environment applications, various parameters should be considered when developing material formulations, including tolerance to extreme temperature changes (- 200° C to + 100° C), resistance to abrasive and electrostatic nanoscale dust, adequate outgassing properties, and resistance to high-energy radiations.

The main objective of this work is to develop high-performance polymer blends/nanocomposites materials for the design of the next generation of lunar rovers. This work is part of a multidisciplinary project made possible by the cooperation between the Research Center for High Performance Polymer and Composite Systems (CREPEC), a FRQ-NT Strategic Cluster, and the Canadian Space Agency.
Speakers
avatar for Arthur Lassus

Arthur Lassus

Master's student in applied science, Polytechnique Montréal
After completing all his studies in France, he obtained an engineering degree from the Grenoble Institute of Engineering (Grenoble INP). Eager to continue his university studies in higher education he took the opportunity to start a master's degree in applied science in the Department... Read More →
avatar for Teodora Gancheva

Teodora Gancheva

Postdoctoral Fellow, Polytechnique Montréal

Friday October 11, 2019 16:40 - 17:00 EDT
Room CR1 ICAO - 999 Boulevard Robert-Bourassa, Montréal, QC H3C 5H10
  Space Exploration, Space Engineering, Materials

17:00 EDT

Challenges, Opportunities, and Lessons Learned Conducting a Simulated Lunar Rover Deployment.
In June 2019, the Canadian Space Agency deployed its JUNO rover on a five day simulated lunar sample return mission. This deployment is an interdisciplinary process, requiring collaboration between teams from government, industry, and academia, composed of engineers, scientists, project managers, and robotic operators, all with a diverse set of skills and experience. Testing a rover prototype for a long-term mission in an analogue lunar environment on Earth is cheaper, faster, and less risky than testing on the moon – but that doesn’t mean it’s easy! We’ll share the challenges, opportunities, and lessons learned from planning and deploying a rover prototype in a simulated moon mission. Uniting disparate objectives, generating realistic mission scenarios, and physically transforming a quarry into a lunar analogue terrain are just some of the many challenges that must be tackled to ensure the mission is a success.
Speakers
avatar for Chelsea Taylor

Chelsea Taylor

Engineer (Development Program), Canadian Space Agency
Ms. Chelsea Taylor graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering from the University of Manitoba in 2018. Since joining the Engineering Development Program at the Canadian Space Agency over a year ago, she has worked on lunar rover integration and deployment, simulation... Read More →
avatar for Miranda Taylor

Miranda Taylor

Engineer (Development Program), Canadian Space Agency
Miranda Taylor graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Northeastern University in 2018. During her degree, she had three co-ops in diverse fields, including medical devices, measuring instruments, and the automotive industry. She partnered with NASA’s... Read More →

Friday October 11, 2019 17:00 - 17:20 EDT
Room CR1 ICAO - 999 Boulevard Robert-Bourassa, Montréal, QC H3C 5H10
  Space Exploration, Space Engineering, Materials
 

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