How many missions does Tracker-1 track for CSA?

Tracker-1 tracks 2 mission(s) related to CSA: James Webb, Station ISS.

What types of spacecraft explore CSA?

The catalog includes 2 spacecraft type(s) for CSA: telescope, station.

Which scientists work on CSA missions?

20 scientist(s) are associated with CSA missions in the catalog, including Adam Riess, Carl Wieman, David Charbonneau, Eric Cornell, Heidi Hammel.

Learn

CSA

This topic page brings together every mission in the TRACKER-1 catalog in which the CSA agency participates. Here you will find spacecraft, discoveries, associated scientists and documented impact.

Full name

Canadian Space Agency

Founded

1990

Headquarters

Saint-Hubert (Quebec, Canada) : HQ and control center for Canadian crewed missions

Reporting to

Canada : government of Canada agency reporting to the Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada.

How it works

The Canadian Space Agency was created in 1990 (Canadian Space Agency Act), although Canada has been active in space since 1962 (Alouette 1, third national satellite in the world). The Canadian program is modest but highly specialized: it excels in space robotics (Canadarm, Canadarm2 on the ISS, robotic arm of the Curiosity rover), Earth observation (RADARSAT), astrophysics (contribution to JWST via FGS/NIRISS) and atmospheric sensors (MOPITT). CSA participates in the ISS via the Canadian segment and the Artemis program (Artemis Accords signed).

Funding & budget

CSA's annual budget (≈ CAD $380 million, about €260 million in 2024) comes from the Canadian federal budget. It is one of the most modest among major space agencies. Canada invests mainly in targeted contributions to international missions (ISS, JWST, Artemis) rather than in its own large launchers.

Key facts

Canada is famous for its space robotics: Canadarm (1981), equipping the space shuttle, then Canadarm2 (2001) on the ISS and Dextre, without which the ISS and shuttle could not have operated. Canada also provided the FGS/NIRISS of the James Webb Telescope. The agency trains astronauts including Chris Hadfield (first Canadian ISS commander, 2013).