David Florida Laboratory

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Coordinates: 45 ° 20 ′ 49.5 ″  N , 75 ° 53 ′ 10.5 ″  W The David Florida Laboratory (DFL) is a facility of the Canadian Space Agency (CSA). The facility develops, builds and tests satellites and satellite systems for the Canadian Space Agency and other companies and space agencies. It is comparable to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory of NASA . The David Florida Laboratory is on a shared site that houses the Canadian Department of Defense (DREO) and a communications research center in Shirleys Bay , Ottawa .

history

The David Florida Laboratory opened on September 29, 1972. The facility was named after the Canadian space explorer David Florida , who died in 1971. The first satellite to be tested for space suitability on the DFL site was a Canadian-American communications satellite called Hermes , which was launched in January 1976. At first it was only possible to test the subsystems and individual components in the DFL. Larger components and the final stress test were carried out by the American facility. The facility was expanded and equipped significantly better in 1979/1980. The aim of government policy at the time was to establish a first-class satellite research and test center in Canada and thus give the space industry a center in which complete spacecraft can be designed, built and tested.

The first expansion of the DFL included:

  • better and bigger storage options
  • a new large thermo-vacuum chamber (this simulates space conditions, the temperature range extends from −186 ° C to +150 ° C).
  • a new vibration level (simulations when launching a rocket, etc.)
  • a special room to analyze the signal quality.

With this expansion, the DFL was able to design and test larger and, above all, complete spacecraft that launch into space on board the Space Shuttle or the Ariane , for example . Furthermore, it was able to relieve other examination centers such as the JPL, which significantly reduced the waiting time. It was also possible to accept orders from other space agencies to build and test satellite systems.

Projects

The first major project, which was carried out in the David Florida Laboratory, was the testing for space suitability of the American / Canadian telecommunications satellite HERMES . This was put into orbit on January 17, 1976. The second major project was the development and construction of the Remote Manipulator System (Canadarm). The tests for the Canadarm at that time began in 1977. This was followed by the development and construction of the Canadarm2 , which today plays an important role on the International Space Station (ISS). Another larger project after Canadarm2 was the Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator (Dextre), which is an extension of Canadarm2 on the ISS.

Other satellites and components that were tested or built were u. a .:

use

About 240 Canadian companies and research institutions from the space industry currently use the David Florida Laboratory (DFL). Some companies use the facility for multiple projects. The DFL facilities are also used by international companies and research institutes, including the Canadian Space Agency, MDA Space Missions , University of Toronto - Institute for Aerospace Studies and Com Dev . Individual components and assemblies for international space projects are also tested for space suitability in the DFL facilities.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Canadian Space Agency - Achievements of the David Florida Laboratory , accessed March 4, 2013
  2. ^ NEOSSat Partners , accessed on January 3, 2014
  3. ↑ Canadian space firm seeks millions after Harper government's anti-Russia sanctions ground satellite , accessed September 16, 2014