Space Geodynamics Laboratory

The Space Geodynamics Laboratory has been involved in four major activities.
1. Space VLBI (Very Long Baseline Interferometry), involved a collaboration in the planning of the Russian-led `Radioastron'' space VLBI mission, intended to place a 10 m diameter antenna in Earth orbit. The laboratory, with Canadian Space Agency support, had previously supported the Japanese-led VSOP space VLBI mission through the provision of data record and playback systems to a world-wide network.
2.  Interplanetary missions involved assisting the navigation of the Japanese Nozomi spacecraft on its second fly-by of Earth en-route to Mars.
3. Geodetic VLBI involved a collaboration with the Geodetic Survey Division of NRCan, in developing and deploying the ``S2'' geodetic VLBI system for establishing fundamental, geodetic control points and Earth Orientation Parameters (EOP) referenced to the International Celestial Reference Frame (ICRF).
4. SGL has been collaborating with Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) in a series of proof-of-concept demonstrations of the use of the 46 m antenna of the Algonquin Radio Observatory for radar surveillance of geostationary targets.