Skip to main content
Society
Main Category
Sub Category
Era
Date Created
Location Country
us
Coordinates
45.347425, -75.886906
Address1
Shirley's Bay Research Centre
Address2
Sandhill Street
City
Ottawa
State
Country
Zip
"Driven by the need to understand the characteristics of radio communication in Canada's North, Canadian researchers focused on the exploration of the earth's upper atmosphere, the ionosphere. Canada's satellite program commenced with the launch of Alouette-I on September 29, 1962. Alouette-II followed in 1965, ISIS-I in 1969, ISIS-II in 1971. The Alouette/ISIS tracking antenna serves as a reminder of Canada's contribution to this international effort in space science. IEEE Canada maintains a web site on this Milestone." (The plaque can be viewed at the Shirley's Bay Research Centre, Nepean, Ottowa, in Ontario, Canada.) Alouette I, the first Canadian-built satellite, was launched into orbit on 29 September 1962, marking Canada's first foray into space. The satellite was used to study the ionosphere from the top down to learn its effect on radio transmissions. Subsequently, Alouette II was launched in 1965, ISIS (International Satellite for Ionosphere Studies) in 1969 and ISIS II in 1971. By 1990, more than 1,000 papers and reports had been published from information received from the Alouette/ISIS Program. The Alouette/ISIS antenna, which received information from the satellites, is located at Shirley's Bay Research Centre and is preserved as a reminder of Canada's contribution to the international space science effort. Alouette/ISIS was initiated in 1958 by Dr. John H. Chapman, IEEE Fellow '64 (1921-1979), director of the Defence Research Telecommunications Agency. Over time, three government agencies -- Communications Research Centre, Defence Research Establishment Ottawa, and Canadian Space Agency -- took over the program, which concluded in 1984.
Dedicated May 1993 - IEEE Ottawa Section
Image Credit
Public Domain; NASA
Image Caption
The The Alouette 1, the very first satellite constructed by Canada

We hope you enjoyed this essay.

Please support America's only magazine of the history of engineering and innovation, and the volunteers that sustain it with a donation to Invention & Technology.

Donate

Stay informed - subscribe to our newsletter.
The subscriber's email address.