Fresh PCB Concepts: Key Considerations for Reliability, Performance, and Compliance in PCBs
Elementary Mr. Watson: Navigating RF—A Glide Path Approach to Design Success
Designers Notebook: Layer Stackup Planning for RF Circuit Boards
SFL Missions Awarded Canadian Space Agency Contract for HAWC Satellite Mission Conceptual Design Study
February 7, 2025 | BUSINESS WIREEstimated reading time: 1 minute
SFL Missions Inc. has been awarded a competitive bid contract by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) to conduct a conceptual design study of the planned High-Altitude Aerosols, Water vapour, and Clouds (HAWC) satellite mission. HAWC is Canada’s contribution to NASA’s Atmosphere Observing System (AOS) mission slated for launch in 2031.
“The HAWC mission will collect atmospheric data that will support extreme weather prediction, climate modeling, and air quality forecasting,” said Michael Henderson, SFL Missions Inc.’s Guidance, Navigation and Control Specialist.
Under the Phase 0 contract, SFL Missions will study the design requirements of the planned HAWC satellite (HAWCsat) and the Aerosol Limb Imager (ALI) instrument that will fly onboard. ALI will measure aerosols, which are tiny solid and liquid particles suspended in the atmosphere. Emanating from forest fires and volcanoes, as well as power plants and industrial processes, aerosols impact weather, climate, and air quality.
ALI will be complemented by the Spatial Heterodyne Observations of Water (SHOW) instrument also carried aboard HAWCsat. SHOW will measure water vapour in the upper atmosphere, a key component of cloud formation which drives heating and cooling of Earth.
ALI and SHOW will make measurements in coordination with a third Canadian instrument, called Thin Ice Clouds and Far InfraRed Emissions (TICFIRE), which is flying on the NASA AOS satellite. HAWCsat will fly in formation leading the AOS spacecraft by 310 seconds.
SFL Missions is uniquely qualified to study the design of this mission due to the importance of formation flying of HAWCsat with the AOS spacecraft. SFL Missions has expertise in precise attitude control, accurate sensor pointing, and autonomous formation flying technologies that have been developed and refined for low-mass smaller satellites.
“Success of the mission depends on the HAWC spacecraft flying in a precise orbit relative to the AOS satellite, so that both capture measurements from the same portion of the atmosphere at the same time, but from different angles,” said Henderson.
The study phase, or Phase 0, of the CSA HAWC mission design will be completed by November of this year.
Share on:
Suggested Items
Proposed NASA Budget Redirects Funding Toward Mars, Ends Key Programs
05/06/2025 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamThe Trump administration has proposed a $6 billion reduction to NASA’s budget for FY 2026, with $1 billion redirected toward Mars-focused programs. According to a discretionary budget document published on NASA’s website, the plan shifts resources toward returning to the Moon ahead of China and initiating a human mission to Mars.
SAIC Awarded New $55 Million Mission Integration Contract From Space Development Agency
05/05/2025 | SAICScience Applications International Corp. has been awarded the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA) Tranche 3 Program Integration (T3PI) contract from the Space Development Agency (SDA).
The EEcosystem and Dr. Eric Bogatin Launch Free Masterclass for Electronics Engineers
05/01/2025 | The EEcosystemThe EEcosystem, a podcast media and education brand serving professional electronics engineers, is proud to announce the launch of a new online learning platform: The EEcosystem Electronics Masterclass. The platform debuts with Transmission Lines 101, a free course created in partnership with world-renowned signal integrity expert Dr. Eric Bogatin. The course will be available starting May 1, 2025.
BAE Systems Selected to Enhance Ground System for Space Force Missile Warning Satellites
04/29/2025 | BAE SystemsBAE Systems has been selected by U.S. Space Force Space Systems Command to provide a new satellite command and control (C2) system for its Future Operationally Resilient Ground Evolution (FORGE) program.
TSMC Commits to Ambitious Carbon Reduction Path in Line with Science Based Targets Initiative
04/23/2025 | TSMCTSMC marked Earth Day by announcing its commitment to the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi,) underscoring its dedication to addressing the pressing challenges of climate change. In line with SBTi, TSMC is collaborating with partners to achieve its environmental sustainability goals, embarking on an ambitious and comprehensive carbon reduction path encompassing direct, indirect and value chain emissions.