Canadians are actively participating in the supply of high performance remote sensing (earth observation) data, products and services for domestic and foreign clients. The Remote Sensing Space Systems Act (RSSSA) was adopted by Parliament in 2005 and came into force on 29 March 2007 when the Regulations adopted pursuant to the Act were also made effective. The Minister of Foreign Affairs is responsible for the implementation of the Act and its provisions.
The objective of this presentation is to explain how the RSSSA regulates the operation of remote sensing space systems (including small satellites) and the distribution of data collected by such systems. Key definitions, licensing requirements, application process, potential conditions of licensing, system disposal requirement, amendment/suspension/cancelation of license and the powers provided by this Act to the Government of Canada will be presented.
This paper will review how Canada’s space partners are embracing or challenged by smallsats in the policy arena and the implications for Canada’s approach to the smallsat revolution. Smallsats bring both benefits and stressors; capabilities balanced with regulations that are required to fully leverage smaller, cheaper, and more plentiful satellites that bring a host of new applications. The US government is leveraging the agility of smallsat development as part of ensuring resiliency in an uncertain space environment. Similarly, commercial smallsats are increasingly finding their way in the intelligence community and are set to contribute to national weather services. In an effort to corner 10% of the global space market, the UK is presented an opportunity to focus on smallsat hardware as part of its innovation strategy and space policy, with its home-grown space industry. New Zealand is set to host a smallsat launch business that will test their government’s regulatory structure and requires government oversight. Canada is presented with the same challenges and opportunities as our international partners. Lessons learned and recommendations for the Canadian government will be derived from international partners who are undertaking similar efforts.
