David Florida Laboratory

The David Florida Laboratory is the Canadian Space Agency's spacecraft assembly, integration and testing centre, in Shirley's Bay, just west of Ottawa. It is operated by the Canadian Space Agency and rented out to Canadian and foreign aerospace and telecommunications companies and organizations for qualifying space bound equipment such as communication or scientific satellites, or components made to be placed on satellites or installed in a space station.

Related Topics:
Canadian Space Agency - Shirley's Bay - Satellites

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There are many support facilities such as storage areas, clean rooms, electrodynamic shakers, space (thermal and vacuum) simulation chambers and in-house mechanical, electrical and electronic shops.

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In the past the David Florida Laboratory has tested satellites for Brazil, Indonesia and the European Space Agency. Inmarsat as designated it as their authorized antenna test house. It has also tested Canadian satellites such as RADARSAT-1and previously tested the Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator which will eventually be installed on the Mobile Servicing System of the International Space Station. It recently completed work on the OBSS which first flew on Shuttle Discovery during STS-114.

Related Topics:
Brazil - Indonesia - European Space Agency - Inmarsat - RADARSAT-1 - Mobile Servicing System - International Space Station - OBSS

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The Laboratory is now working on RADARSAT-2, which is currently in the assembly stage (as of August 2005).

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