Grant: Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)

In recent years, nanosatellites have increasingly been recognized as valuable tools for demonstrating new technologies in space as well as being an effective means to educate space engineering professionals due to their relatively low cost. This recognition has come alongside new advances in miniaturized technologies that have boosted the capabilities of nanosatellites. Capitalizing on these trends and on our research strengths in atmospheric science at York University, we have initiated the York University Space Engineering Nanosatellite Demonstration (YuSEND) program. We have focused on the development of enabling nanosatellite technologies that will allow important missions to measure niche changes in earth's atmosphere. At the same time, more students will gain the irreplaceable experience of working on a space mission with tangible deliverables. This proposal aims to establish the space environmental testing facility wihtin the YuSEND program. The equipment will allow us to build sufficient capability to develop missions to support Earth observation, in particular, the pollution monitoring. We believe that nanosatellites will provide cost-effective yet efficient ways to perform Atmospheric and space science to provide global coverage. In order to provide meaningful science from such small platform, we need significant effort in developing space technologies. This proposal will support the engineering research to build the groundwork for future science.