News
The ongoing development of CASTOR builds on a number of earlier CSA-sponsored scientific and technical investigations, including a 2012 concept study; several Space Technology Development Program (STDP) studies; a 2019 Science Maturation Study that included the technical design, scientific plan and mission architecture; and a 2023 Phase 0 study.
In anticipation of a Phase A study, NRC is sponsoring a Small Teams Initiative to develop CASTOR’s UVMOS instrument while detector development is taking place in Canada and the UK.
July 29, 2025
CASTOR presented at the 2025 Canada-Korea Conference on Science and Technology in Montreal, Quebec
June 18, 2025
CASTOR UVMOS team meets in Calgary, Alberta for second “busy week” workshop in support of Small Teams Initiative
June 4, 2025
CASTOR town hall held at the 56th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Astronomical Society in Halifax, Nova Scotia
May 14, 2025
SPIE publishes invited overview of CASTOR mission concept and its development to date
March 25, 2025
Michelle Kao wins Experiential & Work-Integrated Learning Ontario’s 2024 Co-op Student of the Year Award for her contributions to CASTOR
January 17, 2025
FORECASTOR team publishes first high-fidelity predictions for expected “census” of galaxies to be carried out by CASTOR’s Wide, Deep and Ultra-deep surveys
November 12, 2024
CASTOR UVMOS team meets in Victoria, BC for first “busy week” workshop in support of Small Teams Initiative
September 18, 2024
In memory of Dr. John Hutchings
We mourn the loss of Dr. John Hutchings, friend, colleague and co-founder of the CASTOR mission. Dr. Hutchings pioneered the development of Canadian space astronomy, playing a key role in Canada’s contributions to the Hubble, FUSE, AstroSat and JWST. He will be dearly missed.
June 4, 2024
CASTOR town hall held at the 55th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Astronomical Society in Toronto, Ontario
May 28, 2024
First paper on FORECASTOR software tools featured in AAS Journals’ Author Series of online interviews
May 16, 2024
CASTOR team meets to wrap up latest Space Technology Development Program study
May 10, 2024
CASTOR UVMOS team meets to kick off Small Teams Initiative sponsored by National Research Council Canada