David Florida Laboratory

45.347094 - 75.88625Koordinaten: 45 ° 20 ' 49.5 "N, 75 ° 53' 10.5 " W The David Florida Laboratory ( DFL) is an agency of the Canadian Space Agency ( CSA). The institution 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 located on a shared terrain on which the Canadian Ministry of Defence ( Dreo ) and a communication research center in Shirley's Bay is located in Ottawa.

History

The David Florida Laboratory was opened on 29 September 1972. Named after the establishment of the Canadian space scientists David Florida, who had died in 1971. The first satellite, which was tested on the DFL - terrain on suitability for space, was a Canadian-American communications satellite, named Hermes, was launched in January 1976. Initially in the DFL, it was only possible to test the individual components and subsystems. Larger components and the final load tests were carried out by the U.S. device. The facility is 1979/1980 significantly better developed and equipped. The aim of the then government's policy was to establish a first-rate satellite research and test center in Canada, and so to give the space industry a center in which complete spacecraft designed, built and can be tested.

The first expansion of the DFL contained:

  • Better and bigger storage facilities
  • A new large thermal vacuum chamber (to simulate conditions in space, the temperature ranges from -186 ° C to 150 ° C).
  • A new vibrational level ( simulations with the launch of a rocket, and others)
  • Analyzing a specific space around the signal quality.

With this expansion it was the DFL able to construct larger and especially complete spacecraft and to test which for example, start on board the Space Shuttle or Ariane into space. Furthermore, one could thus relieve other examination centers such as the JPL, which significantly reduced the waiting time. In addition, you could also take orders from other space agencies in the construction and testing of satellite systems.

Projects

The first major project, which was conducted at the David Florida Laboratory, was to test for space qualification of the American / Canadian telecommunications satellite HERMES. This was placed in orbit on 17 January 1976. The second major project was the development and construction of the Remote Manipulator System ( Canadarm ). The former tests for the Canadarm 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 major project after Canadarm2 was the Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator ( Dextre ), which is an extension of the Canadarm2 on the ISS.

More satellites and components that have been tested or built were:

  • Anik -C2
  • Anik - Anik D1 and D2
  • Brasilsat B1 and S2 Brasilsat
  • Olympus
  • Indorstar
  • RADARSAT -2
  • Cassiope
  • NEOSSat

Presence

Currently use about 240 Canadian companies and research organizations in the aerospace industry, the David Florida Laboratory ( DFL). Some companies use the facility for multiple projects.

Future

All future Canadian space projects as well as projects in which only individual components are supplied by the Canadians are subjected to at the David Florida Laboratory rigorous testing.

Department of National Defence (Canada) Shirleys Bay Communications Technology Satellite Olympus-1 RADARSAT-2 Near Earth Object Surveillance Satellite
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