Canadian Space Agency

The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) is Canada's federal space agency, established in 1989 and headquartered in Longueuil, Quebec, responsible for the peaceful use and development of space, advancing space science, developing space technologies, and promoting commercial exploitation of space for the benefit of Canadians.

Canada's most celebrated contribution to human spaceflight is the Canadarm family of robotic manipulators. The original Canadarm flew on all 135 Space Shuttle missions from 1981 to 2011 as the Remote Manipulator System (RMS). Canadarm2, installed on the International Space Station in 2001, is a 17.6-meter robotic arm that assembles station modules, captures visiting cargo vehicles, and supports spacewalks. Dextre (Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator), installed in 2008, provides fine-dexterity maintenance capability for ISS exterior tasks. Together these systems gave Canada permanent relevance in human spaceflight through robotics expertise.

CSA contributions to space science include the Fine Guidance Sensor and NIRISS (Near Infrared Imager and Slitless Spectrograph) instrument package on the James Webb Space Telescope, and the RADARSAT Constellation Mission (RCM, launched 2019) — three C-band SAR satellites providing all-weather surveillance of Canadian maritime zones, Arctic regions, and agriculture. Canadian astronauts including Chris Hadfield, David Saint-Jacques, and Jeremy Hansen (Artemis II lunar flyby crew) have conducted ISS expeditions and NASA mission assignments. CSA's Lunar Gateway contribution includes the Canadarm3 robotic system for the proposed cislunar station.