LiteBIRD : Nomination d'un Scientifique principal national – National Lead Scientist nomination
This message provides a brief LiteBIRD mission update, a link to a community survey, and a call for nominations for the Canadian National Lead Scientist for the mission.
The Canadian Space Agency (CSA)'s Planetary Science and Space Astronomy Missions Group (PSSAM), together with the current Canadian representative on the LiteBIRD Science Ground Segment, is pleased to share this update and invite input from the Canadian astronomy community.
LiteBIRD Reaches a Major Milestone
LiteBIRD (Lite satellite for the studies of B-mode polarization and Inflation from cosmic background Radiation Detection) is a Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)-led international space mission designed to perform the most sensitive full-sky measurements of the polarization of the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB). Its primary objective is to test models of cosmic inflation and probe some of the most fundamental questions about the origin of the Universe. [isas.jaxa.jp]
Following an extensive mission reformulation effort, LiteBIRD successfully completed its second Mission Definition Review in June 2026. The review confirmed that the revised mission concept, development approach, international collaboration framework, and risk management plans are appropriately structured for the next stage of mission development. The project is now advancing toward Phase A and preparation activities with its international partners.
Canada remains actively engaged in discussions related to potential scientific, technological, and programmatic contributions to the mission. LiteBIRD continues to be regarded as a high-priority opportunity for the Canadian astronomy community and was identified in the Canadian Astronomy Long Range Plan as a flagship space cosmology opportunity.
Community Interest Survey
To help inform ongoing discussions regarding Canada's possible participation and to better understand how the Canadian community may wish to engage with LiteBIRD, we are conducting a short survey.
The survey should take a few minutes to complete.
We strongly encourage participation from faculty, research scientists, postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, and other members of the Canadian astronomy and astrophysics community.
Call for Expressions of Interest: Canadian LiteBIRD National Lead Scientist
The CSA would like to sincerely thank Professor Douglas Scott for his service as the Canadian member of the LiteBIRD Science Ground Segment Task Force and for his continued valuable contributions to the mission and to the Canadian CMB community. CSA is now launching a call for expressions of interest for a Canadian National Lead Scientist (NLS) for LiteBIRD.
The NLS will help represent the Canadian scientific community, coordinate community engagement, facilitate communication with the international collaboration, and contribute to the development of Canada's scientific participation strategy.
Researchers interested in helping shape Canada's role in LiteBIRD are invited to submit an application package to Jamie Sevigny at mspas-pssam@asc-csa.gc.ca no later than October 19, 2026. Additional information on the role, term, expectations, and selection process is available in the following call letter https://www4.asc-csa.gc.ca/Documentation/2026-09_CSA_Call-for-nomination_LiteBIRD-NLS.pdf.
Members of the Canadian space astronomy community are invited to join the CSA's Space Astronomy Missions distribution list by sending a blank email to join-astro@lyris.asc-csa.gc.ca.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
The CSA’s Planetary Science and Space Astronomy Missions Group
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