Spaced Out

Expected and unexpected consequences of sanctions appear to surprise with their appearance of complicating the orderly progression of the plans of spaced-out state. Officials with the Canadian Space Agency along with the spacecraft's manufacturer, Com Dev, are now on the hunt for another country or a private agency that would be willing to take good Canadian hard currency in exchange for sending the M3MSat surveillance satellite into space orbit.

Where once NASA was the propelling vehicle of choice through its shuttles, it has long been in the process of back-pedalling economics; even it has resorted to collaboration with Russia's space agency which still invests in space-carriage through its Soyuz shuttles and transports astronauts/cosmonauts, and equipment to the ageing and reconditioned International Space Station. Though nations may differ and come to verbal blows, generally scientific cooperation manages to chug along.

International Space Station

"Recognizing the current events in the Ukraine, we had been engaged in discussions with the Government of Canada with respect to a potential delay of the launch of M3M, and plans to mitigate the impact of any delay. We are confident that the mitigations will be in place prior to the originally planned M3M in-service date of September 2014", explained Mike Pley, chief executive officer of Com Dev.

Post issuance of a statement it would not proceed with the launch of the spacecraft. Which was to have been launched from Russia's facilities in Kazakhstan. And so the June 19 launch of the satellite through Russian auspices won't take place. Canada also cancelled a planned military exercise with the Russian air force. And expelled an attache from the Russian embassy in Ottawa; then Russia returned the compliment.

Radarsat-2, Canadian Space Agency

It was not Russia that had cancelled the launch, but Canada. The M3MSat is meant to provide maritime surveillance and to work along with another Canadian spacecraft now in space, Radarsat-2. DND's science agency supports M3MSat with assistance from the CSA. Sophisticated technology on the spacecraft will permit it to track digital signals transmitted by ships, to identify and record marine traffic, including details of direction and speed to monitor legal and safe navigation in Canadian waters.

Head of the Canadian Space Agency, General Walt Natynczyk was of the opinion that Canadian sanctions against Russia resulting from its annexation of Crimea and threats of aggression against Ukraine would have no effect on operations with the International Space Station, that Canada would continue its work with Russia and other nations involved in the station.

"Com Dev has received an indication that the Canadian Space Agency will support Com Dev's efforts to secure a new launch", the company said reassuringly. India maybe?