Integrated Practices

CSA Astronaut Dr. Robert Thirsk

We had the amazing opportunity to talk, by proxy, with CSA astronaut Robert Thirsk. An engineer and physician, Robert Thirsk also holds the surprising distinction of being the first person to ever receive a university degree in space (having been given an honorary doctorate degree from his alma mater: The University of Calgary). Dr. Thirsk proved us a look into the life of an astronaut, and incredible insight into the space industry and why more people, and governments, should be investing into the projects being developed by their space agencies. A busy individual, Dr. Thirsk responded to one of our questions regarding space exploration.

How do you convince taxpayers that spending money on a manned mars mission is their best interest?

Dr. Thirsks: The strongest driver for continued support for space programs is simply economic benefits. The Canadian Space Agency, funded by Canadian taxpayers, makes $3.00 Billion in revenue. Striving for space missions makes economic sense. There is also a trickle down effect, plenty of spin-off technologies comes from innovation in the space industry. For example, MD Robotics developed the Canadarm for use on the International Space Station. Developments from the Canadam include the NeuroArm, a robot designed for neurosurgery, and improvements to modern flight simulators. There is also a utilitarian component. Canada has the second largest land mass in the world, plenty of rural areas lack modern amenities such as internet access and TeleHeathcare. Developments in satellite technology would provide these amenities to people in our northernmost regions, as well as improved remote sensing technology. Successful space missions also inspire the public. If we can achieve the impossible in space, then we can adopt that mindset and face other problems back on earth (climate change, poverty, etc.). Dedicated space programs also educate younger generations and inspire the next generation of leaders. They promote international cooperation and instigate dialogue between countries that wouldn’t normally cooperate. Politics don’t get in the way when there is a common vision globally. I think those are enough reason for the Canadian taxpayer to support our space program, and other developments in the space industry.

Christopher Nokes, Project Manager at AlbertaSat

We also had a discussion with Christopher Nokes, an Engineering Physics Graduate and Project Manager of Ex-Alta 1, the first cube satellite designed in Alberta. He was kind enough to answer some questions regarding payload delivery among other things. This gave us greater insight into the concerns of rocket scientists when they deal with mission launches, and a greater understanding of our own project within the context of the space industry.

What kind of restraints were in consideration in the design of your system regarding factors like weight and volume?

Mr. Nokes: Ex-Alta 1 was designed according to two primary documents. The first is the CubeSat Design Specification. The second is the QB50 System Requirements (go to qb50.eu and navigate to the Documents tab).

Both these documents have very specific details concerning weight and volume, and I recommend you read them in detail. That said, from our experience with Ex-Alta 1, the critical factor of the two is volume. This is for technical reasons. The satellite must fit within an envelope volume which is non-negotiable. Whereas with the weight, since cubesats most often weigh only a few kilograms, going over the weight limit by even 1 or 2 kg is not a big issue. The rockets launching these cubesats have plenty of contingency to accommodate a few extra grams/kilograms here and there..

What kinds of benefits would a regenerative, self-sustaining system of oxygen production (biological system) have over the chemical method?

Mr. Nokes: Biology is chemistry (and chemistry is physics, but as a physicist and engineer I may be biased). The generation of oxygen via photosynthesis (this is what I interpret by biological system) is a chemical reaction where energy is used to convert matter from one form (carbon dioxide) into another (starch and oxygen).

Again, it will depend on the mission and constraints. Currently, there is no photosynthesis based system that can be used for sustainable oxygen generation on human space missions. It just doesn’t make sense. Huge quantities of matter are required for this, and that means extra weight.

That said, astronauts now grow and eat fresh produce on the International Space Station. But that’s not so much about oxygen generation as it is food generation.

If you think of the Earth as a spaceship - really the Earth is the most advanced spaceship in the human conception of the universe - then such a system exists and works splendidly.