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 — is continuing its efforts to secure approval and funding for the mission. Their pre-budget submission, submitted in July, seeks immediate funding for an NRC-led Phase A+ study to be begin in early 2026. Their efforts emphasize the CASTOR mission’s potential for Canadian scientific leadership, international partnerships, national sovereignty, and capacity-building within the aerospace sector.
- Phase A+ Study. As the Coalition pushes for Phase A+ funding, NRC and CSA continue their discussions on a framework to jointly support such a study. NRC is devoting project management resources to develop statements of work for work packages, deliverables, and schedule. The highest priority items for development in this Phase will be the telescope system; the FSM pointing servo loop; the spacecraft bus design; cameras, detectors and electronics; and mission systems engineering. This study would serve three primary purposes: (1) demonstrate Canada’s commitment to the mission, solidify the partnership, & define partner contributions; (2) elevate the mission definition and costing to enable a future funding request as a fixed-firm-price mission; and (3) reduce cost uncertainty for subsequent development by retiring technical risk.
- Technology Development. Technology development for the mission, carried out in collaboration with international partners, is continuing along two fronts:
- 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 the collaboration builds its understanding of the performance of these large-format, UV-enhanced CMOS detectors.
- UVMOS Proto-typing. The three-year effort to build and test a prototype of a UV multi-object spectrograph (UVMOS) for the CASTOR mission is well underway (having started in spring 2024). The current schedule aims for the delivery of the prototype instrument to the Calgary test facility in 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, a progress report on this project was presented at the “Towards the Habitable Worlds Observatory: Visionary Science and Transformational Technology” conference in Washington. Additional updates will be presented in talks at the upcoming “Network for UV Astronomy” meeting to be held in Marseille, in October.
- Science Planning Tools: Works continues on the FORECASTOR suite of science planning tools (Finding Optics Requirements and Exposure times for CASTOR). This effort is driven largely by undergraduate and graduate students. Recent and ongoing projects include the development of: data simulation and exposure time calculation tools for the UVMOS instrument, as part of the NRC Small Teams project; a tool to generate Target Access Reports for pointed and mapping programs; and software to simulate the detection and monitoring of moving objects within the solar system. This tool has implications for future facilities focused on space situational awareness.
- HWO Request for Information. CSA has issued a Request for Information inviting community input on possible Canadian contributions to NASA’s Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO). The closing date for submissions is October 15. The HWO instrument suite has yet to be finalized but is currently expected to include: an optical/NIR coronagraph; a high-resolution UV/VIS and NIR Imager; and a UV Multi-Object Spectrograph (with a possible fourth instrument to be defined). As explained in the recent JATIS review paper, CASTOR can provide a scientific and technical pathway to a possible HWO contribution, should the Canadian community decide to pursue this option. Several members of the CASTOR team plan to provide a response to the RFI; contact the authors if you would like more information and wish to be involved.
For more information on the mission, see https://www.castormission.org