In a bold venture uniting scientists who study space with engineers who design space systems and robotics, The University of Western Ontario is launching the Centre for Planetary Science and Exploration (CPSX) and the Canadian Lunar Research Network (CLRN).
CLRN is NASA’s first international affiliate partner.
The Centre and the collaborative network that will support it will be holding a grand opening, Friday, Feb. 27 at Western’s Physics and Astronomy Building with a public afternoon and evening program featuring NASA lunar scientists, a former astronaut, representatives of the Canadian Space Agency, a Google Lunar X Prize contestant, and a lunar and planetary rover demonstration.
“CPSX is a unique interdisciplinary endeavor that is building meaningful bridges between the engineers involved in developing the technologies for space exploration and the scientists who generate the broader physical questions for study,” said Peter Brown, Director of CPSX and an associate professor of physics and astronomy at Western.
“A core goal is to begin training the next generation of Canadian planetary scientists and engineers through the country’s only collaborative graduate planetary science program, which began at Western just last year. Through the CPSX, we will be able to leverage the knowledge and skills of many here at Western and across Canada to build domestic expertise necessary for the next generation of space exploration missions.”
“Western has a critical mass of planetary scientists and we have an emerging expertise in space systems and space robotics,” said Gordon Osinski, Deputy Director of CPSX and Principal Investigator of the CLRN. “In addition to building expertise at Western, the CLRN is the first of its kind in the world and comprises researchers, engineers, and entrepreneurs, from academia, industry and government, from across Canada.
“Together we will help to ensure Canada’s place at the table as we explore the moon, Mars and beyond.”
Last July, NASA’s Lunar Science Institute announced its first international affiliate partner for conducting lunar science activities would be the CLRN led by Western.
The institute, dedicated in April 2008, will promote a new generation of research about the moon. It will support collaborative science, providing technical perspectives to NASA’s lunar missions and developing future scientific investigations.
The opening event on Feb. 27 includes:
2:30 p.m. – Opening remarks, Peter Brown, CPSX Director and Gordon Osinski, CPSX Deputy Director and CLRN Principal Investigator
2:45 p.m. – NASA Lunar Science Institute talk, Greg Schmidt, NLSI Deputy Director
3:15 p.m. – Canadian Space Agency, Alain Berinstain, Director of Planetary Exploration and Space Astronomy – the future of planetary exploration from a Canadian perspective
3:45 p.m. – MDA Lunar & Planetary Rover Exhibit, Nadeem Ghafoor, MDA
4:45 p.m. – “Projects in Space Systems at Western,” former Canadian Astronaut
Bjarni Tryggvason, Adjunct Engineering Research Professor
5:45 p.m. – MDA Lunar & Planetary Rover Exhibit, Nadeem Ghafoor, MDA
7:00 p.m. – Keynote address: “Odyssey Moon – Preparing for Moon 2.0,” Bob Richards, Odyssey Moon 9 (private commercial lunar enterprise headquartered in the Isle of Man competing for Google Lunar X Prize.)
8:00 p.m. – Closing remarks, Peter Brown, CPSX Director and Gordon Osinski, CPSX Deputy Director and CLRN Principal Investigator
Eents will be held in the Physics & Astronomy Building. Lectures are in Room 137, displays are in Room 113 with coffee and reception in Room 123.
For more information visit:
CPSX website: https://planetsci.uwo.ca/
CLRN website: https://clrn.uwo.ca/
Grand opening: https://planetsci.uwo.ca/CPSX-CLRN_Grand-Opening-Schedule.pdf
