http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=0050b330-e021-482e-b6 f4-39d43537ad50
Cheap, tiny satellites can patrol vast Arctic, military told Devices would boost our ownership claim, advisory report says David Pugliese, The Ottawa Citizen Published: Thursday, July 13, 2006 Canada should launch a constellation of low-cost miniature satellites to conduct surveillance on the Arctic and other parts of the country, a group of Defence Department advisers has concluded. The micro-satellites, which cost about $10 million each compared to hundreds of millions of dollars for a full-size satellite, could help support Canada's claim of ownership over its northern territories, according to the report obtained by the Citizen. "A micro-satellite program is the only effective method of achieving a continuous and comprehensive coverage of Canada's landmass and airspace," notes the report prepared by the Defence Science Advisory Board. Micro-satellites are small -- less than 100 kilograms -- and can be built and launched within several years by Canadian industry. It would cost between $3 million and $10 million to launch such spacecraft. The science board report also warns that other nations are focusing on the country's resource-rich Arctic territories, a key reason to boost surveillance of that region. "The Canadian Arctic could well become a cockpit of competing international and commercial interests potentially detrimental to Canadian interests," it notes. "What cannot be monitored and defended is likely to be lost." Such satellites could also be used in conjunction with patrol aircraft and surveillance drones. The Defence Science Advisory Board is made up of academics, analysts and industry representatives who provide the department with advice. Non-military uses for the mini-satellites could involve space science experiments, mineral prospecting and disaster preparation. The report noted that Carleton University students, supported by eight experienced space engineers and scientists, have developed and presented a concept for a 100-kilogram micro-satellite to be used for forestry management. In the past, Canada has relied on foreign agencies or other countries to launch its space systems. But that has resulted in launch delays and restrictions on the types of technology that Canada can use in its spacecraft, according to the advisory board. By developing a Canadian industry that can build and launch micro-satellites, the federal government and military would not be affected by the limitations imposed by other nations, notes the study. One of Canada's premier satellite programs, the $620-million Radarsat-2, was delayed because of U.S. concerns the images it would produce could fall into the wrong hands. As a result, the U.S. put restrictions on American-built technology that would have been used on board the spacecraft. In response, Canada had to switch manufacturers of some of the components, driving up the cost of the satellite and resulting in a series of delays. Radarsat-2 was supposed to be launched in late 2001, but the new launch date is now March 2007. Defence officials were not keen, however, for the science advisory report to be made public. The May 2005 study was withheld by the Defence Department's Access to Information branch for almost a year and was released only after Information Commissioner John Reid conducted an investigation into the issue. Specific parts of the report have been censored for security reasons. Liberal Senator Colin Kenny, chairman of the Senate's defence committee, said space systems offer the government a way to keep an eye on northern regions. "We think this is a natural growth area if you're serious about Arctic sovereignty," Mr. Kenny said. "Anything that brings the cost down would seem to be a good idea." The Canadian Forces announced last year it would spend almost $60 million on a project to use surveillance information from Radarsat-2 to monitor the north as well as coastal areas. The project will build ground reception sites on Canada's east and west coasts that will link information from Radarsat-2 and other sources to produce high-quality imagery for military as well as other applications. Prime Minister Stephen Harper has said that ensuring sovereignty over the country's Arctic territories will be a focus for his government. It has proposed a significant military expansion into the north and Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor says he has staff working on coming up with various options for that. "Our vision for the North and sovereignty for the North is at the heart of our (defence) policy," said Mr. O'Connor. Gregory S. Williams [EMAIL PROTECTED] Reply with a "Thank you" if you liked this post. _____________________________ MEDIANEWS mailing list [email protected] To unsubscribe send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
