Daily BrewTimmins, Ontario, joins France to balloon into the space age
The mining town of Timmins Ontario, birthplace of Shania Twain and hockey's Mahovlich brothers, is about to become Canada's newest Mecca of space exploration — sort of.
The Globe and Mail is reporting that the Northeastern Ontario community will become home to a new space-balloon launch site, a partnership between the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and France's Centre National d'Études Spatiales (CNES). Canada's space agency is committing $10-million to the cost of construction and flights in which it participates, while the French are providing their expertise and balloons, pledging to fly one in Timmins about every two years.
According to Timmins mayor Tom Laughren, his city was chosen after a rigourous selection criteria.
"The latitude, wind and weather conditions, the low population density in key areas surrounding the city and optimal on-site infrastructure meet the stringent national and international security regulations governing balloon launch and recovery systems," he told the Timmins Times.
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"I'm excited at the news of this development. To have the Canadian Space Agency and the Centre national d'études spatiales operate from Timmins will help diversify our local economy, create employment, and provide youth with new career opportunities."
CSA's collaboration marks a return to ballooning for Canada after funding for these flights was scaled back about a decade ago.
Space balloons can carry up to 1.5 tonnes of equipment into the stratosphere, soaring higher than an aircraft but lower than satellites to study everything from ozone depletion over the North Pole to monsoons in West Africa and the accuracy of satellite solar cells.
Timmins will officially join the space age — with its first space launch — in 2013.
About Canada's Space Agency:
Established in: 1989,
Mandate: The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) coordinates all civil, space-related policies and programs on behalf of the Government of Canada.
2011/12 budget: $442 million
