Mississauga satellite prepares for blast-off

Mississauga-based Dynacon Inc. is getting set to unveil a satellite that will hunt asteroids.
CBC News is reporting that the satellite,  funded by Canadian Space Agency and Defence Research Development Canada, features a suitcase-sized telescope that will be used to spot asteroids and track space debris.
While NASA already tracks asteroids from the ground, this new telescope will operate from space, providing a greater field of view. Known as the Near Earth Object Surveillance Satellite, or NEOSSat, the 65-kg satellite is scheduled for launch in 2010 and cost $12 million to build, relatively cheap compared to other satellites. This has raised interest in the Canadian Forces, where the  cost of conventional units has prevented the military from owning its own satellites.

onlinenews@mississauga.net