David Florida Laboratory
Encyclopedia
The David Florida Laboratory is the Canadian Space Agency's spacecraft assembly, integration and testing centre, in Shirleys Bay, just west of Ottawa
. It is operated by the Canadian Space Agency and rented out to Canadian and foreign aerospace and telecommunications companies and organizations for qualifying space bound equipment such as communication or scientific satellites, or components made to be placed on satellites or installed in a space station. The laboratory was named to honour C. David Florida, a leading Canadian pioneer in space research.
Officially opened in September, 1972, the lab has been expanded over the years to accommodate the demand for its services. There are many support facilities such as storage areas, clean rooms, electrodynamic shakers, anechoic chamber
s, space (thermal and vacuum) simulation chambers and in-house mechanical, electrical and electronic shops.
In the past the David Florida Laboratory has tested satellites for Brazil
, Indonesia
, and the European Space Agency
. Inmarsat
has designated it as their authorized antenna test house. It has also tested Canadian satellites such as RADARSAT-1
and previously tested the Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator which will eventually be installed on the Mobile Servicing System
of the International Space Station
. It recently completed work on the Orbiter Boom Sensor System
which first flew on Shuttle Discovery during STS-114
.
Recently, the Laboratory worked on RADARSAT-2
prior to launch in 2007.
45.347094°N 75.886250°W
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
. It is operated by the Canadian Space Agency and rented out to Canadian and foreign aerospace and telecommunications companies and organizations for qualifying space bound equipment such as communication or scientific satellites, or components made to be placed on satellites or installed in a space station. The laboratory was named to honour C. David Florida, a leading Canadian pioneer in space research.
Officially opened in September, 1972, the lab has been expanded over the years to accommodate the demand for its services. There are many support facilities such as storage areas, clean rooms, electrodynamic shakers, anechoic chamber
Anechoic chamber
An anechoic chamber is a room designed to stop reflections of either sound or electromagnetic waves.They are also insulated from exterior sources of noise...
s, space (thermal and vacuum) simulation chambers and in-house mechanical, electrical and electronic shops.
In the past the David Florida Laboratory has tested satellites for Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
, and the European Space Agency
European Space Agency
The European Space Agency , established in 1975, is an intergovernmental organisation dedicated to the exploration of space, currently with 18 member states...
. Inmarsat
Inmarsat
Inmarsat plc is a British satellite telecommunications company, offering global, mobile services. It provides telephony and data services to users worldwide, via portable or mobile terminals which communicate to ground stations through eleven geostationary telecommunications satellites...
has designated it as their authorized antenna test house. It has also tested Canadian satellites such as RADARSAT-1
RADARSAT-1
Radarsat-1 is Canada's first commercial Earth observation satellite.-Mission:It was launched at 14h22 UTC on November 4, 1995 from Vandenberg AFB in California, into a sun-synchronous orbit above the Earth with an altitude of 798 kilometers and inclination of 98.6 degrees...
and previously tested the Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator which will eventually be installed on the Mobile Servicing System
Mobile Servicing System
The Mobile Servicing System , better known by its primary component Canadarm2, is a robotic system and associated equipment on the International Space Station...
of the International Space Station
International Space Station
The International Space Station is a habitable, artificial satellite in low Earth orbit. The ISS follows the Salyut, Almaz, Cosmos, Skylab, and Mir space stations, as the 11th space station launched, not including the Genesis I and II prototypes...
. It recently completed work on the Orbiter Boom Sensor System
Orbiter Boom Sensor System
The Orbiter Boom Sensor System is a 50-foot boom carried on board NASA's Space Shuttles. The boom can be grappled by the Canadarm and serves as an extension of the arm, doubling its length to a combined total of 100 feet...
which first flew on Shuttle Discovery during STS-114
STS-114
-Original crew:This mission was to carry the Expedition 7 crew to the ISS and bring home the Expedition 6 crew. The original crew was to be:-Mission highlights:...
.
Recently, the Laboratory worked on RADARSAT-2
RADARSAT-2
Radarsat-2 is an Earth observation satellite that was successfully launched December 14, 2007 for the Canadian Space Agency by Starsem, using a Soyuz FG launch vehicle, from Kazakhstan's Baikonur Cosmodrome....
prior to launch in 2007.
External links
- Canadian Space Agency website - David Florida Laboratory FAQ's
- Historical anecdotes of David Florida Laboratory
45.347094°N 75.886250°W