By Patrick Côté (NRC-Herzberg), Tyrone Woods (University of Manitoba)
- Mission Overview Paper. A detailed overview of the CASTOR project is now available through SPIE as a contribution to an upcoming special issue of JATIS (Journal of Astronomical Telescopes, Instruments and Systems). This paper represents a snapshot of the scientific, technical and programmatic development of the mission up to February 2025, including the ongoing development activities and a discussion of CASTOR’s expected place in the international astronomical landscape during the 2030s and 2040s.
- Technology Development. Technology development for the mission continues in collaboration with international partners. A recent meeting of the CASTOR technical team (June 18-19) was held at the University of Calgary. This productive meeting focused on science planning tools (see below) and two main technology development activities:
- Detector Testing and Characterization of engineering-grade detectors for the mission is proceeding at NRC-HAA in Victoria; the newly refurbished Vacuum UV Calibration Facility at the University of Calgary; and the Centre for Electronic Imaging at the Open University in the UK. Cryogenic, in-vacuum characterization of the detectors and electronics will continue throughout this calendar year as well build our understanding of the properties and performance of these large-format, UV-enhanced CMOS detectors.
- UVMOS Proto-typing. A three-year international program to build and test a prototype of a UV multi-object spectrograph (UVMOS) for the CASTOR mission is underway. The current schedule aims for the delivery of the prototype instrument to the test facility in Calgary in early 2027. This work, which is being carried out in collaboration with researchers in France, Colorado, Spain, Calgary and Manitoba, is advancing the technology readiness level of convex gratings, DMDs and CMOS detectors for operation at UV wavelengths. In July, an update on this project will be presented at the “Towards the Habitable Worlds Observatory: Visionary Science and Transformational Technology” conference in Washington.
- Town Hall at 2025 CASCA AGM. The recent CASCA AGM featured a CASTOR Town Hall as part of the ACURA Lunch on Wednesday June 4. The event featured updates from members of the CASTOR science and technology team, as well as perspectives on mission development and approval from Luc Simard (HAA Director General), Martin Bergeron (CSA Director of Space Exploration Development), Fred Grandmont (ABB Ltd), Alan Scott (Honeywell Aerospace), and Erik Rosolowsky (Coalition for Canadian Astronomy).
- Science Planning Tools: Work has accelerated on the required software suite to support science development for the CASTOR mission through the FORECASTOR initiative (Finding Optics Requirements and Exposure times for CASTOR). A total of 14 students and early career scientists across Canada, as well as international partners, are now working on advancing the development of exposure time calculators (ETCs) and survey planning tools, as well as supporting, representative science cases. A particular focus of these efforts is on expanding the functionality of the UVMOS ETC (funded in part by the ongoing NRC Small Teams Program), as well as AGN, exoplanet, evolved stellar population, and solar system science cases utilizing the proposed UVMOS instrument. These efforts will support the development of an updated science traceability matrix for evaluating the requirements on a CASTOR spectroscopic instrument during the upcoming Phase A+ study.
- Phase A+ Study. Recent discussions between NRC, CSA and industry have defined the essential next step for CASTOR development: a “Phase A+” study to begin as soon as possible (ideally this calendar year). Candidate work packages include: the telescope system; the FSM pointing servo loop; the spacecraft bus design; cameras, detectors and electronics; and mission systems engineering. This 2-year study would cover all mission elements traditionally covered in Phase A studies (mission and technology development, trade studies, system definition, etc) but with more extensive breadboarding and prototyping.
- 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 — is working to secure federal funding for the CASTOR mission as the top priority for very large investments in space astronomy, as endorsed by the LRP. The Coalition is continuing its vigorous efforts in support of CASTOR, communicating with the PMO, as well as relevant government ministries and standing committees; the immediate request is for $20 million to be provided to the NRC to lead a Phase A+ study. These efforts have particularly highlighted the CASTOR mission’s contributions to Canadian leadership and sovereign capacity-building within the aerospace sector.
For more information on the mission, see https://www.castormission.org