Astro H suspended from the ceiling as it undergoes the micro-disturbance tests. Photo: JAXA

[Via Satellite 05-02-2014] Neptec Design Group received a $1.35 million add-on contract from the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) to continue work on Canada’s contribution to Astro H, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s (JAXA) next­generation space observatory. CSA is developing Astro H’s meteorology system (CAMS), which will improve the calibration of Astro H’s main telescope.

Neptec started its work on CAMS in 2010. The seven-year contract is estimated at $8 million. Canadian and Japanese astronomers plan to use Astro-H to study black holes, neutron stars and galactic formation. The mission is Canada’s first using X-ray.