ARCHIVED - Canadian Space Agency

Expected Result

Delivery, directly or in partnership, of Space Based EO data, products and services in response to operational and scientific user requirements in the fields of Environment, Resource and Land Use Management, and Security and Foreign Policy, supported by access capacity development.

Main Accomplishments in 2007-2008

RADARSAT-2 was successfully launched in December 2007 and the commissioning was completed in April 2008. More than 200 projects are currently preparing the utilization of the RADARSAT-2 Canadian government data allocation, valued at $445 million.

The CSA continued to ensure Canada's commitment, as an official member of the International Charter "Space and Major Disasters", to use EO satellites in response to disasters. The CSA regularly contributes RADARSAT-1 data products upon charter activation and more than 45 charter activations were supported by the CSA during the year.

Canada's SCISAT-1, launched in August 2003, continues to provide excellent data enhancing Canadian scientist's understanding of stratospheric ozone layers as well as greenhouse gases.

Indicator 1 - Performance Analysis

RADARSAT data can be ordered through 4 different order desks. A total of 7,910 frames were processed at the Canadian government order desk located at the CSA and the Canadian Ice Services located at Environment Canada. The commercial order desks at MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates (MDA) and at the Alaska SAR Facility for U.S. government request are the two other order desks.

It should be noted that the number of 10 Departments does not take into account branches and divisions that are part of these departments (i.e. Canada Centre for Remote Sensing (CCRS), Canadian Forest Services (CFS), Geological Survey of Canada (GSC) are three branches of Natural Resources Canada). The largest government user of RADARSAT data is still the Canadian Ice Service of Environment Canada for ice monitoring activities. Environment Canada (EC), the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG), Transport Canada (TC), Department of National Defence (DND) and Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) are coordinating their efforts to implement ISTOP (Integrated Satellite Tracking of Polluters). By doing so, they have been more effective and have reduced their cost by sharing RADARSAT data acquired to monitor the targeted area. ISTOP became fully operational in 2006-2007 and the amount of RADARSAT data usage has increased in 2007-2008. RADARSAT data are also used successfully for applications related to crop monitoring, ship detection, wetland mapping, ocean wind field mapping, soil subsidence and soil movement monitoring, disaster monitoring and, especially, flood monitoring.

The Alaska Satellite Facility (ASF) handled data requests from the U.S. governments as part of the U.S. allocation of the RADARSAT Mission, processing a total of 64,800 frames during the 2007-2008 period. The main areas of application for the frames processed by ASF are for sea ice monitoring, wind speed determination, geological hazards, and scientific research.

MDA Geospatial Services Inc. (GSI) is responsible for the commercial sale of RADARSAT data. A total of 21,126 frames were sold by MDA for telemetry and commercial use through 1,305 orders in 2007-2008. Europe is the largest market accounting for 61%, followed by the U.S. with 15%, and the Far East with 12%. Ship detection is the main application accounting for 54% of the frames, followed closely by applications related to ice monitoring with 15%, defense applications with 13%, and oil pollution with 7%. These numbers do not include the frames ordered by Canadian government departments and agencies or processed at the Alaska Satellite facility for the U.S. government.

Indicator 2 - Performance Analysis

(Year) = Actual or projected launch date or date of completion if in the "Status" column.

* = New missions in 2007-2008

7 A brief description of each mission is given in Section 5 - Index.

Indicator 3 - Performance Analysis

There were 10 federal government departments using RADARSAT EO data in 2007-2008. The same number of departments as in 2006-2007. The largest users are still the Canadian Ice Center of Environment Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Fisheries and Oceans, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, National Defence and the Canadian Space Agency. It is worth noting that 4 other departments were repeat users of RADARSAT data during the 2007-2008 period – Parks Canada, the National Research Council, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission and Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada. In 2006-2007, a total of 6,755 processed image frames were provided to federal departments and agencies. In 2007-2008, the total increased to 7,910 processed image frames.

Discussions are currently taking place among the government departments and agencies under the leadership of PWGSC, to consolidate the purchase of EO data for the government departments as a whole. If negotiations are successful, information on all EO data purchases, not just RADARSAT data, by Canadian government departments will become available in 2008-2009.

Indicator 4 - Performance Analysis

Data on the number of hits on the Canadian Geospatial Data Infrastructure (CGDI) related to the CSA sponsored scientific and operational missions are not available. GeoConnections, was able to provide the CSA with monthly statistics from their Discovery Portal, which connects databases with the CSA supported missions. Data for 2007-2008 were not available for the DPR deadline.

Expected Result

Increased participation in Canadian and international opportunities in order to expand the scientific knowledge base made available to Canadian academia and R&D communities in astronomy, space exploration and solar-terrestrial relations, as well as physical and life sciences.

Main Accomplishments in 2007-2008

The Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator, also known as Dextre, successfully reached the International Space Station (ISS) in March 2008. Dextre was then assembled and underwent successful activation. This delivery marked the last Canadian hardware commitment towards the ISS.

The Canadian meteorological station, onboard NASA's Phoenix mission, successfully landed on Mars in May 2008.

Canadian astronaut, Dave Williams, made his second trip to the ISS where he performed three extra vehicular space walks to install a third starboard truss segment and to relocate solar panels in order to increase the capacity of the ISS to generate power to support science and operational activities.

Indicator 1 - Performance Analysis

(Year) = Actual or projected launch date or date of completion if in the "Status" column.

* = New missions in 2007-2008

** = A mission listed in 2006-2007 but counted for the first time in the mission
success rate.

8 A brief description of each mission is given in Section 5 - Index.

Indicator 2 - Performance Analysis

For the purpose of this indicator, a mission is considered partly or totally successful when the status reads: objective met, in operation, completed or launched. Analysis of the last three fiscal year, starting April 1, 2005 and ending on March 31, 2008 shows a cumulative mission success rate of 43% (16 out of 37) when all initiated missions are taken into account. Using the same method of calculation, counting only the missions reaching for the first time the status listed above, the 2007-2008 mission success rate is a respectable 16% (6 out of 37) compared to the exceptional rate of 28% (9 out of 33) in 2006-2007 and the 2005-2006 rate of 12% (3 out of 24). It is important to note that all successful missions have either met or are in the process of meeting their mission objectives.

Indicator 3 - Performance Analysis

In 2007-2008, 383 peer-reviewed papers, reports and conference proceedings acknowledging CSA funding were published. It is a significant decrease in comparison to the 711 publications reported in 2006-2007 and it is partly due to a 14% decrease of investment in Space Astronomy and Exploration, Solar-Terrestrial Relation, and Physical and Life Sciences.

Expected Result 1

Increased access for Canadians to state-of-the-art space communications systems and services to meet their social and economic needs.

Main Accomplishments in 2007-2008

As part of the CASSIOPE Mission Contribution Program initiated in 2004-2005, the construction of the telecommunication satellite subsystem Cascade by Canadian companies continued. The launch is planned for 2009.

Trials and demonstration of innovative government services to remote northern communities using the Ka-Band on Anik F2 continued and some applications for telemedicine and mobile communications were successful. The trial campaign was extended to December 2008.

A definition Study for a Next Generation Advanced Payload onboard a future Telesat satellite was launched in May 2007. As a result from this recently completed study, the CSA has identified V-band as a critical new technology for an early SatCom mission, including the ground segment.

Studies on communications satellite service needs and opportunities were postponed to 2008-2009 in order to refine their scope. The studies need to identify which " key incentive factors " would improve the rate of utilisation of space-based communication and navigation services by federal departments and agencies in the delivery of their mandates.

The coverage over Canada for commercial and governmental usage is near 100%. While service is provided to commercial users, the provision of Government services to northern and remote communities is at the demonstration and trial stages.

Anik F2 now has 47,500 customer subscribers (74,000 basic service equivalents) in Canada in addition to the commercial services offered by Telesat to corporations.Thirty-three percent of the Canadian satellite beams have reached maximum capacity. Another 500,000 U.S. customers are accessing multimedia services via Anik F2 through the U.S. service provider.

Demonstration and trial campaign fostered great interest in the northern communities for accessing the Government of Canada Capacity Credit for the delivery of government services and applications.

Indicator 1 - Performance Analysis

Performance analysis will be performed once studies are completed.

Indicator 2 - Performance Analysis

The CSA has deployed hubs in Vancouver and Winnipeg to demonstrate Ka-Band applications and services using Anik F2's four northern beams. The ground segment infrastructure is being upgraded to accommodate the network for the Government of Canada capacity credit utilization phase by the northern communities.

Indicator 3 - Performance Analysis

Through its support of Anik F2, the Government of Canada has secured a Government Capacity Credit (GoC CC) access worth $50 million over 11 years starting in May 2005. At the time, the GoC CC was included in National Satellite Initiative (NSI) to support the Government's connectivity agenda for remote and underserved northern rural communities. The deployment strategy under the NSI proved unfeasible as the GoC CC must be considered public property under the Financial Administrative Act. Consequently, the CSA has accepted the leadership role and a multi-year implementation plan for the utilization of GoC CC has been proposed.

So far, the GoC CC access has only been used for validation testing and concept demonstration purposes, resulting in a low rate of utilization since May 2005. The demonstration and trial of innovative government services to remote northern communities will be extended to the end of December 2008.

Expected Result 2

Better use of space communications, search and rescue, and global navigation satellite systems and applications to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of other government departments in delivering services to Canadians.

Main Accomplishments in 2007-2008

The CSA and Department of National Defence partnered to initiate and manage the Maritime Monitoring and Messaging Micro-satellite (M3MSat). This project will demonstrate satellite capability in maritime traffic identification. The launch is planned for late 2010 and end of mission demonstration in 2011.

One joint study on polar communications via satellite has been initiated with the Departments of National Defence, Environment Canada and Indian Affairs.

The CSA has started a technology development project on the next generation of Search and Rescue satellite systems named MEOSAR.

Indicator 1 - Performance Analysis

As part of the Polar Communications and Weather (PCW) initiative, the CSA is studying how to provide high-speed communications to the extreme northern regions of Canada via satellite. This new communications infrastructure would cover for the first time the entire Canadian arctic region north of 72 degrees latitude. This would greatly enhance the Canadian government capacity to assert its sovereignty in the Arctic and would support the mandate of various government departments such as Department of National Defence, Environment Canada and Northern and Indian Affairs. The results of this feasibility study are expected for the second quarter of 2008-2009.

The CSA has started the development of an Engineering Qualifying Model (EQM) of a Middle-Earth Orbit Search-And-Rescue (MEOSAR) payload. MEOSAR represents the next-generation of Satellite-Aided Search-And-Rescue infrastructure that will greatly enhance the rescue time and reduce the search zone following a distress call. This infrastructure will also reduce the costs of Search-and-Rescue operations for the Department of National Defence.

Expected Result

Innovative space technologies, techniques, and design and test methodologies in response to advanced developments required for future space missions and activities.

Main Accomplishments in 2007-2008

The CSA continued to enhance Canada's space capabilities by awarding technology R&D projects to industry and research organizations on a competitive basis through its Space Technology Development Program.

The CSA developed high-risk space technologies and maintained in-house technical capabilities through its Space Technology Research Program. A total of 8 new patents applications were filed out of 11 projects and 2 patents, filed last year, were granted.

The David Florida Laboratory provided world-class, cost-effective environmental space qualification services for the assembly, integration and testing of spacecraft systems and sub-systems to all of the CSA's programs as well as commercial programs.

From the 34 projects that brought to higher readiness levels, a total of 4 technologies were chosen to enable new space missions and 5 technologies were integrated into commercial products.

Eight of the CSA's space missions and 54 external programs were supported by DFL.

The CSA's scientists and engineers wrote a total of 84 peer-reviewed papers and conference presentations as a result of 2 CSA generic technology R&D programs.

Indicator 1 - Performance Analysis

The 2 technologies chosen from the Space Technology Research Program (STRP) to enable space missions are the Phoenix Ground Station and MIRAD.

The 2 technologies chosen from the Space Technology Development Program (STDP) to enable space missions are Proba 2 and MOPITT.

Indicator 2 - Performance Analysis

In addition to the 8 CSA's space missions, the David Florida Laboratory supported 54 external programs for 38 private companies.

Indicator 3 - Performance Analysis

Harmonized performance measurement indicators for 2 Space Technology Programs – Space Technology Research Program (STRP) and Space Technology Development Program (STDP) – demonstrated that the research community does not use publications to share early findings with its peers in order to protect industrial secrecy and know-how.

Expected Result

Increased public awareness of Canada's activities in space and space benefits positively affecting the quality of life of Canadians.

Main Accomplishments in 2007-2008

The number of visitors to the CSA's interactive Web site increased from 2,600,000 in 2006-2007 to 3,300,000 in 2007-2008.

Over 90 public events were conducted in communities throughout Canada to raise awareness of Canadian space science and technology.

The Space Learning Program conducted 280 learning events, combining in-class experiences, presentations and tele-distance education with primary and secondary students throughout Canada. A total of 10,661 students participated in these learning events compared to 3,226 the previous year.

A total of 1,140 educators participated in professional development workshops compared with 614 in 2006-2007.

The last survey was conducted in 2005.

Results indicated that 46% of respondents are aware of the Canadian Space Agency as champion of space activities and that 19% of respondents have moderate knowledge of Canada's space activities.

Indicator 1 - Performance Analysis

The survey was conducted with the general public to assess awareness, knowledge, and attitudes toward Canada's space program and related activities. The survey was administered by phone to 1,628 Canadian adult residents, on February 4 to 11, 2005. Based on a sample of this size, the overall results can be considered to be accurate within +/- 2.5%, 19 times out of 20.

Several results contribute to determining levels of awareness. Other then the two results cited above, the following could also be considered:

• 47% identified Earth-related benefits that flow from Canada's space program;
• 67% cited images when thinking about Canada's involvement in space;
• 71% believed Canadians are proud of our activities in space, and that Canadian success in advanced space technologies contributes to our knowledge-based economy, innovation, and economic competitiveness; and,
• 65% felt that our space activities inspire youth in science and engineering.

Some 80% of Canadians surveyed think it is important for Canada to continue to have a space program and be active in the development of advanced technologies and science related to space.

Respondents were asked to rate the importance of a number of benefits that result from investment in the Canadian Space Program. A strong majority viewed all potential benefits as important. Some 90% felt that monitoring the Earth for natural disasters is an important benefit, followed closely by monitoring our oceans, forests, wetlands and farmlands (88%), and new medical discoveries (87%). As well, significant numbers attributed importance to better telecommunications (83%) and leadership in robotics (81%). Benefits that also received strong responses included advancing humankind's knowledge (74%), enhancing Canada's international reputation (71%), and exploring the solar system (67%).

Expected Result 1

Corporate Services provide an added value to the CSA managers in the performance of their duties.

Ratings from the 2007 MAF assessments against the 19 indicators were:

Strong = 1
Acceptable = 10
Opportunity for improvement = 7
Attention required = 1

Indicator 1 - Performance Analysis

Overall, the results are similar to the assessment in 2006. During the MAF period, the CSA has undergone two transitions at the presidency level, which has delayed the finalization of some corporate initiatives. Compared to 2006, 3 ratings have improved, 3 ratings have declined and 13 have remained the same.

The CSA 's rating improved from "acceptable" in 2006 to "strong" in 2007 under the indicator "Extent to which the workplace is fair, enabling, healthy and safe".

Steady progress was made under the indicators "Effectiveness of financial management and control" and "Effectiveness of information technology management" with a rating rising from "opportunity for improvement" to "acceptable".

The rating declined from "strong" to "acceptable" under the indicator "Effective project management" and from "acceptable" to "opportunity for improvement" under the indicators "Values-based leadership and organizational culture" and "Quality and use of evaluation."

The Treasury Board assessment does not indicate management quality beyond MAF indicators. The CSA and Treasury Board had identified 3 management priorities for 2007-2008:

1. The completion of the Long Term Capital Plan: The completion was postponed to 2008-2009 in order to take into consideration the results of the priority review carried out by the CSA in response to the Canadian Science and Technology Strategy and the Treasury Board Strategic Review.

2. The development of an implementation plan for the new Internal Audit policy: The CSA has developed an implementation plan. While reasonable progress was made in implementing key elements of the Internal Audit Policy, the CSA has not complied with one central element: the reporting relationship between the Chief of Audit and Evaluation and the Deputy head.

3. The monitoring of the CSA external financial reporting information: The Agency has made progress in monitoring its financial reporting and ensuring compliance, and has improved the overall quality and timeliness of its external financial reporting information.

Source: Management Accountability Framework Assessment Round V 2007-2008.

Expected Result 2

Key corporate risks are addressed and mitigated.

Planned management and mitigations actions were fully completed in response to 2 out of the 4 highest priority corporate risks, and partially completed for the other 2 priority risks.

Indicator 1 - Performance Analysis

All actions planned in the RPP 2007-2008 were completed in response to 2 of the four highest corporate priority risks, namely:

Function/Process Integration: Increase the capacity of the CSA to align its strategies, planning priorities, funding levels, operations and capacity to deliver and to obtain clear understanding and buy-in from managers and staff at all levels.

1. Development of socio-economic performance indicators: The CSA has approved the Performance Measurement Framework. It includes socio-economic indicators for the strategic outcome and for all program activities that were integrated in the Report on Plans and Priorities 2008-2009.

2. Integration of financial and performance information: The CSA has approved the first work plan created with a custom-built database integrating systematically financial and performance information. The electronic work plan database is fully implemented and functional in all sectors for the planning and monitoring of 2008-2009.

3. Development of a Long-term Investment Plan: A first version of the plan was developed. The approval of the plan was postponed to 2008-2009 in order to take into consideration the priority review carried out by the CSA in response to the Canadian Science and Technology Strategy and the Treasury Board Strategic Review.

Workforce Competencies: Increase the capacity of the CSA to maintain a qualified workforce of public servants to deliver CSA's mandate within the government legislative frameworks, policies and rules.

1. Established profile of essential qualifications for managers to receive delegation of authority: The necessary conditions to obtain full delegation and authority are identified in CSA's Human Resources Authority Delegation Document. Also, the leadership competency profile developed by the Canada Public Service Agency is the reference tool at the CSA.

2. The majority of managers are recognized as being qualified for increased delegation of authority: One hundred percent of managers have completed their mandatory training prescribed by the Treasury Board Secretariat and are registered in an continuous learning program. The majority of managers have followed the mandatory training to obtain full delegation authority. However, the Public Service Commissions of Canada continues to limit the delegation authority to Director General's level and above.

Actions planned in the RPP 2007-2008 were partly completed in response to 2 of the four highest corporate priority risks, namely:

Vision and Strategy: Create a capacity for the CSA to strategically plan and allocate its funds based on cutting-edge priorities and in line with Government's objectives:

1. Development of a strategic planning cycle aligned with the CSA's current management cycle: The planning cycle was developed but the implementation was postponed to 2008-2009.

Values and Ethics: Increase the capacity of the CSA to instil public service values, to develop a working environment free of harassment, and promoting respect for individuals, integrity and honesty:

1. Implementation of a Public Service Values and Ethics program: Some initiatives were taken to increase dialogue among managers on matters of values and ethics. Communication activities were initiated to make employees aware of the importance of values and ethics and of corporate mechanisms to deal fairly with government wrongdoing disclosure.

Source: CSA's Corporate Risk Profile (Internal document).