Technologies which may one day support international space exploration missions of the future are being tested by NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) at a site in Sudbury.
The objective of the testing activities is to further develop a range of technologies and capabilities for In Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU), the recovery and use of resources in space.
Space Resources Canada, a collection of Canadian companies working together to develop key technologies and capabilities that will be needed for future international space exploration missions, is assisting NASA with the tests.
It is contributing Canadian expertise in mining technology, electric vehicle controls, mobility platforms, multi-agent teaming, communications, vision systems and embedded processing and control.
NASA has brought a set of equipment named RESOLVE, which is a lunar prospecting unit for water and a subscale demonstration of oxygen extraction from regolith.
Integrating these various technologies will pave the way for future comprehensive testing and development of ISRU capabilities, including resource exploration, site preparation, excavation, mining, processing and product utilization.
The capabilities being integrated and tested are also intended to support space science activities.
The integration tests, taking place at a mining location made available through the support of Vale Inco and Ethier Sand and Gravel, are being co-ordinated by the Northern Centre for Advanced Technology (NORCAT). NORCAT’s role is supported by funding from the Canadian Space Agency.
Space Resources Canada includes the Sudbury-based Northern Centre for Advanced Technology Inc. (NORCAT), Val Caron-based Electric Vehicle Controllers Ltd. (EVC), New Hamburg-based Ontario Drive and Gear Ltd., Montreal- based Xiphos Technologies Inc., Ottawa-based Neptec Design Group, Edmonton-based Virgin Technologies Inc. and the University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies.
