Successful deployment of Canadian Arctic monitoring satellites by Space Flight Laboratory

Successful deployment of Canadian Arctic monitoring satellites by Space Flight Laboratory
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jan 16, 2025

Space Flight Laboratory (SFL) has announced the successful launch and deployment of Canada's Gray Jay Arctic surveillance technology demonstration mission. This mission, developed for Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC), comprises three 30-kg formation-flying microsatellites. The launch took place on January 14 as part of the SpaceX Transporter-12 rideshare mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base.

Sharing the same launch as the Gray Jay mission was the NorSat-4 maritime monitoring microsatellite, also built by SFL for the Norwegian Space Agency (NOSA). This latest achievement brings the total number of operationally successful microspace satellites developed by SFL to 86.

Funded by DRDC, the Gray Jay mission aims to bolster Canada's ability to maintain sovereignty in the Arctic region and enhance situational awareness for safety and security applications. The microsatellites carry multiple sensors designed for independent detection of surface and airborne objects, including radio frequency (RF) geolocation, and fly in close formation to achieve these objectives.

"Monitoring activities in the harsh high-latitude environment of the Arctic with space-borne assets is crucial to safeguarding national resources and interests," said SFL Director Dr. Robert E. Zee. "SFL is proud that our affordable microspace technology has made this ambitious demonstration mission a reality on a small budget."

DRDC selected SFL for the Gray Jay mission following a competitive process, citing the lab's proven capabilities in precise attitude control and formation flying. These advanced capabilities are particularly challenging to achieve with smaller, low-mass spacecraft but are essential for the mission's imaging payload and RF geolocation sensors. SFL has been a pioneer in delivering these technologies affordably, making them accessible for missions that would otherwise be cost-prohibitive with traditional satellites.

Over the past 26 years, SFL has become a trusted provider of microspace solutions, enabling a wide range of Earth observation, communications, environmental monitoring, and RF signal mapping applications. These accomplishments have contributed to its reputation for delivering high-performance, cost-effective satellite missions.

Since its establishment in 1998, SFL has completed 86 operationally successful small satellite missions, accumulating over 360 years of combined on-orbit experience. The lab currently has 21 missions under development and offers a diverse range of satellite platforms, from nano- and microsatellites to CubeSats, to support mission types ranging from 3 to 500 kilograms. For more information about SFL's satellite platforms, visit https://www.utias-sfl.net/satellite-platforms/overview/.