Alouette1, with Dr. John Chapman (left) 
Bob McDonald |
Canada on Orbit: Alouette1 50th Launch Anniversary Gala With host Bob McDonald of CBC Radio's "Quirks and Quarks" September 29, 2012 Keynote presentation by: Mac Evans This year marks the 50th anniversary of the launch of Alouette1. On September 29, 1962, Canada's Alouette1 satellite was launched into orbit from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. With this launch, Canada became the third country in the world, after the U.S.S.R. and the United States, to have built its own spacecraft. To mark this milestone in Canada's history and to celebrate the achievements of the Alouette programme, members of Canada's Space community have joined together to organise a Gala dinner. Entitled "Canada On Orbit", the Gala will take place on September 29, 2012, exactly 50 years to the day since Alouette's launch, and will highlight and honour the pioneering efforts of the scientists and engineers who worked on the Alouette programme, several of whom will be in attendance at the event. The Gala will be hosted by Bob McDonald, the national science reporter for the CBC, and the host of CBC Radio's "Quirks and Quarks." Also featured at the dinner will be university students who are participating in the Canadian Satellite Design Challenge, a competition for teams of university students to design and build a small "cubesat" satellite, with the intention of launching the winning team's satellite into orbit to conduct its science mission. The winning team will be announced at the event. The Canada On Orbit Gala is being organised by four not-for-profit organisations: the Canada Aviation and Space Museum, the Canadian Satellite Design Challenge Management Society, the Canadian Space Society, and Mitacs, as well as a representative of the Alouette Pioneers. Proceeds from the event will go towards supporting these organisations' efforts to expand space-related education, research and awareness in Canada. To purchase tickets for the Gala, please click here. |
