Canada Eyes 'Son of Sapphire' Satellite as a Way To Keep Helping U.S. Watch over Space

摘要

The Canadian military is looking to build a new electro-optical satellite to allow it to continue providing information to the U.S. space surveillance network beyond 2021. The project, called Surveillance of Space 2, will be the successor to Canada's Sapphire satellite that was launched in 2013. Surveillance of Space 2 was briefly mentioned in a listing of more than 100 future Canadian military procurements that was published June 25. But Canadian military officers have told SpaceNews that the new satellite would be an improvement over Sapphire. The Sapphire satellite, with its electro-optical sensor, is designed to track space objects in high Earth orbit as part of Canada's contribution to space situational awareness. Data from Sapphire contribute to the U.S. Space Surveillance Network, said Dan Blouin, Canadian Department of National Defence spokesman.