CASTOR update

By Patrick Côté (NRC-Herzberg), Tyrone Woods (University of Manitoba)

Detector Testing

• A project to test and characterize large-format CMOS, delta-doped devices for the CASTOR mission is underway at the University of Calgary. This project represents a long-term collaboration between NRC, JPL, Teledyne-e2v, Open University, UCalgary, UManitoba and CSA. The Vacuum UV Calibration Laboratory at the University of Calgary has been significantly upgraded to enable these tests, which are now underway. Results will be presented at the upcoming SPIE meeting in Copenhagen (July 5-10).

UVMOS Prototyping

• The NRC-led “Small Teams” project to prototype a DMD-based UV Multi-Object Spectrograph (UVMOS) for CASTOR is making good progress. Several subsystems (on detectors, DMD control electronics and re-windowing, UV coatings and gratings) have made significant progress since the last update, and it is expected that assembly and testing of the prototype will be begin in mid-2027. Several progress reports on this project will be given at the upcoming SPIE meeting.

CSA Request for Information

• In February, the CSA issued a Request for Information relating to an upcoming Space Technology Development Program (STDP) call for “Enabling Technologies for Future Missions” (Solicitation number 9F063-20250303). One of the four priority technologies listed in this call, Electronics for Large Mosaic Focal Plane Arrays of Astronomical Low Light Imagers, focuses specifically on CIS-300 detectors and supporting readout/control electronics for the CASTOR mission (with possible applications to HWO). It is expected this 2-year program will run from 2026 to 2028.

Phase A+ Study Planning

• NRC and CSA have completed a detailed project management plan for a CASTOR Phase A+ study that will move the mission to the next stage of its development. This anticipated 18- to 24-month study would consist of the standard tasks and deliverables for a Phase A study, plus significant breadboarding and prototyping activities needed to reduce technical risk and refine cost estimates for subsequent phases (B-E) in order to deliver a firm fixed price for the mission. As part of this plan, CSA and NRC have identified a possible governance framework for co-development of the mission, which may provide a roadmap for co-development of future Canadian space astronomy projects.

CASCA AGM and CASTOR

• The upcoming CASCA Annual General Meeting will feature an SKA/CASTOR lunch kindly sponsored by ACURA. A detailed program will be made available closer to the event.

Optical Telescope / Ground Station

• A preliminary site visit and tests have been carried out in Inuvik in support of a Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI) proposal to build a hybrid optical telescope / ground station in the high arctic. Led by the University of Manitoba, this project aims to build and operate a 40cm optical telescope at the Inuvik Satellite Station Facility (ISSF). This hybrid facility would be useable as both a research telescope, and an optical ground station. For more information, contact Tyrone Woods (Tyrone.Woods@umanitoba.ca) or Ryan Wierckx (wierckx1@myumanitoba.ca).

Lobbying Efforts

• The Coalition for Canadian astronomy is continuing its efforts to secure approval and funding of a Phase A+ study. More details may be found in the President’s report

For more information on the mission, see https://www.castormission.org