Alouette-ISIS Satellite Program

"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.

Alaska Highway

Anonymous — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 07:38:38 +0000

Alaska Highway

(not verified) Wed, 07/25/2012 - 03:38

Society

Main Category

Sub Category

Era

Date Created

Location Country

Coordinates

64.047778, -145.718611

Address1

Dawson Creek British Columbia

Address2

to Delta Junction, Alaska, US

City

Delta Junction

State

Country

USA

Zip

99737

Website

http://www.asce.org/project/alaska-highway/

Creator

MacDonald, Thomas

The Alaska Highway, initially called the Alaskan-Canadian (Alcan) Military Highway, provided an essential transportation link to the Yukon and Alaska during World War II. It begins at the junction with several Canadian highways in Dawson Creek, British Columbia and runs to Delta Junction, Alaska, via Whitehorse, Yukon. After the shock of Pearl Harbor, the Alaska Highway was a first step in America's defense strategy -- a vital military supply line during the war. Over ten thousand Army Engineers were rushed to the far Northwest. Their mission was to blaze a road to Alaska in less than a year. They battled mountains, muskeg and mosquitoes on a front that stretched across miles and miles of rugged, sub-Arctic terrain. To this day, it has remained the only transportation link to the Yukon and Inuvik Region of the Northwest Territories. Built in 1942 in just eight months, the 2500 km (1570 miles) highway was a significant feat of time critical engineering and construction. Besides being completed much sooner than expected, the Alaska Highway was the largest undertaking at the time for a northern construction project. It still remains one of the largest northern construction projects to this day. During the project's construction, significant experiences were gained in Arctic engineering and construction, particularly in permafrost. The Alaska Highway provided an opportunity for the development and refinement of cold region engineering roadway construction techniques and construction supply techniques. In addition to increasing knowledge in the field of cold region engineering, it enabled the development, settlement and economic growth of millions of acres of land. The highway also became the basis for a substantial tourism-based economy. Resources 1.Twichell, Heath. Northwest Epic: The Building of the Alaska Highway. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1992. 2. Remley, David A. Crooked road : The story of the Alaska Highway. New York, McGraw-Hill, 1976.