Launch of Canadian Forces Military Satellite Delayed

January 4, 2013. David Pugliese - Defence Watch

Sometime around Dec. 12 the Canadian Forces/Defence Department’s first dedicated operational satellite was supposed to have been put into orbit on board an Indian rocket.

Sapphire is not only a dedicated military satellite designed to conduct surveillance of objects in deep space with its electro-optical sensor, but it will also allow the Canadian Forces to contribute to the United States Space Surveillance Network.

The planned launch, however, never came off (don’t bother looking for the DND press release on that development as none was issued).

Part of the problem, apparently, was related to concern over storms in the launch area but there seems to be more issues that have developed since.

Two Canadian satellites are to be launched on the Indian rocket, Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle C20.

The launch is now set for mid-February.

Marc Boucher at SpaceRef Canada reports the delay is linked to issues with the primary payload on the rocket, a joint Indian-French satellite.

Further details are here:

http://spaceref.ca/isro/launch-of-canadian-satellites-by-india-delayed-until-mid-february.html