By Patrick Côté (NRC-Herzberg), Tyrone Woods (University of Manitoba)
- The Coalition for Canadian Astronomy. The Coalition for Canadian Astronomy — which brings together representatives from the astronomical community (CASCA), the Association of Canadian Universities for Research in Astronomy (ACURA) and industry — has the goal of securing federal funding for projects endorsed by the LRP. The Coalition is continuing its vigorous efforts in support of CASTOR, meeting with representatives from CSA, NRC, industry and the federal government on multiple occasions. The highest priority for the project remains the approval of a mission-defining Phase A study (and associated technology development) that would include formal agreements with international partners who await this critical next step.
- Detector Testing and Characterization Program. Upgrades to the vacuum ultraviolet calibration facility at the University of Calgary are nearing completion. This specialized facility is being used in a long-term program to test and characterize delta-doped CMOS detectors for the CASTOR mission. QE-enhanced CIS120 CMOS detectors from Teledyne-e2v and JPL have now been delivered to the facility, along with custom readout electronics developed by NRC-HAA. This facility will also feature prominently in the three-year NRC Small Teams project that is building a proto-type UVMOS instrument, in collaboration with France (Marseille) and Colorado (LASP). Promising discussions are also underway with GOLD (Grupo de Óptica de Láminas Delgadas), a research group affiliated with Instituto de Óptica-CSIC (Madrid, Spain) that specializes in optical coatings for use at UV wavelengths.
- CASTOR Overview Paper. The Journal of Astronomical Telescopes, Instruments and Systems (JATIS) will soon publish a special issue entitled “Ultraviolet Science and Instrumentation: On the Way to Habitable Worlds Observatory and Beyond”. An invited review of the CASTOR mission was recently accepted for publication in this special issue of JATIS, which will be available soon. This article provides an up-to-date summary of the current design, science plan, and ongoing technology development — with a focus on synergies with NASA’s upcoming Habitable Worlds Observatory. The large number of coauthors (180) reflects the many individuals who have contributed to the scientific, technical and programmatic development of the mission since 2010.
- Science Planning Tools. Work continues on the development of various science planning tools for the mission, carried under the FORECASTOR initiative (Finding Optics Requirements and Exposure times for CASTOR). Recent highlights include the development of a survey scheduling and implementation tool (including a careful trade study on the choice of downlink technologies for the mission), Pyxel-based simulations of the in-orbit performance of CASTOR’s expected flight detectors, and the continuing development of a grism ETC and data simulator. A priority for the coming semester will be the extension of the survey scheduling tool to the case of non-sidereal targets within our solar system. A series of monthly FORECASTOR zoom meetings brings together astronomers and developers with shared interests in these tools. For more details, contact the one the mission science leads.
- Town Hall at 2025 CASCA AGM. The upcoming CASCA AGM, to be held in Halifax on June 2-5, will feature an ACURA Town Hall. The first half of this lunchtime session will be devoted to SKA, and the second half to CASTOR. Community members are encouraged to attend to learn more about the current status of the mission and its ongoing development. The AGM will also feature a dedicated session on the MTR which is reviewing the state of our field, including progress towards realizing the LRP’s goals in space astronomy.
For more information on the mission, see https://www.castormission.org