Space Research at UCalgary

Space and Defence Technologies Alberta, a new partnership between UCalgary, University of Alberta and University of Lethbridge, will establish Alberta as a global hub for innovation in space and defence technologies. It will address four main themes (Emerging Technologies, Sensing our Environment, Situational Awareness, and Threat Detection and Response) building on Alberta’s world-leading expertise and leadership in space domain solutions, sub-orbital technologies, and joint-domain intelligence. 

UCalgary is a partner in NASA’s Geospace Dynamics Constellation (GDC), leading the GDC-Ground (GDC-G), a ground-based observing facility, measuring key space environment parameters from across Canada as NASA's spacecraft fly overhead. Data from GDC-G will be integrated into the NASA mission, enabling Canadian research and technology to address cutting-edge research questions, foster national and international partnerships, and advance Canada as a global scientific leader. 

UCalgary’s Auroral Imaging Group, led by Dr. Eric Donovan and Dr. Emma Spanswick, leads the development and operation of the world’s most extensive network of ground-based instruments for observing the aurora. Their projects include SMILE — Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer — a joint mission of the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Chinese Academy of Science (CAS) that focuses on the Earth’s magnetosphere and its minute-by-minute response to the solar wind. 

UCalgary has scientific instruments aboard the ESA’s CASSIOPE and Swarm satellites, which are being used to enhance our understanding of space weather and Earth’s magnetic field. UCalgary also led the expansion of Swarm’s original mission to include auroral science with the creation of Swarn-Aurora, to build a bridge between Swarm data and optical images of the aurora collected primarily by ground-based imagers. 

The upcoming RADICALS mission will include an x-ray imager, based on a prototype designed at UCalgary by Dr. Chistopher Cully. It will measure x-rays generated when the energetic particles strike the atmosphere, and map where the particles are hitting earth. 

The Aerospace and Compressible Flow Research (AERO-CORE) Group, led by Dr. Craig Johansen, is researching the creation of greener and safer solid rocket fuel, as well as testing rocket performance at UCalgary’s Rothney Astrophysical Observatory.