A rendering of a microsatellite mission. Photo: NASA

[Via Satellite 05-01-2014] The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) has granted five contracts to the Canadian industry to perform studies on five potential microsatellite missions. The missions would address needs in security, health, forest fire surveillance, weather surveillance and water quality monitoring. The studies would determine whether the mission concepts are possible and suitable for microsatellite platform use.

The total value of the five contracts is $2.3 million over the course of two years. The CSA is collaborating closely with other government departments in these feasibility studies, such as Environment Canada, Department of National Defence and the Public Health Agency of Canada, among others.