Team from York U. out of this world.
York University researchers were recently honoured with the Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute's 2010 Alouette Award for their design and construction of a miniature space-borne pollution monitor dubbed 'Argus'.
Photo/COURTESY
York University researchers who designed and built a miniature space-borne pollution monitor are part of a team of Canadians who were honoured with a 2010 Alouette Award from the Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute (CASI).
The annual prize, one of the top accolades for the advancement of space technology in Canada, was awarded May 4 to the CanX-2 microsatellite team, headed by the University of Toronto.
York's instrument, a microspectrometer dubbed Argus, is currently riding aboard the microsatellite, which launched in April 2008. Argus can accurately detect sources of industrial pollution on Earth, to a resolution of one kilometre.
"We're very excited to be a part of the team receiving this award," Brendan Quine, Argus principal investigator and professor in York's department of Earth and Space Sciences and Engineering, said in a release. "Argus is a Canadian first and we're delighted we could make it happen at York."
The device, which is small enough to fit in the palm of an adult's hand, transmits data via infrared radiation emitted to space. It enables scientists to determine local levels of carbon dioxide and other climate change gases by recording infrared spectra, which contain information about atmospheric composition.
Developed in partnership with Thoth Technology, it's the first space instrument to be built and tested in York's space engineering laboratory, part of the university's Centre for Research in Earth and Space Science (CRESS). Argus' current mandate includes monitoring levels of ash from recent volcanic eruptions in Iceland.
CASI introduced the Aloutte Award in 1995 to recognize outstanding contributions to the advancement of Canadian space technology, science or engineering. It may be awarded to an individual, group, organization of group of organizations. Preference is given to contributions that lead to new benefits for mankind.