The Joint Committee on Space Astronomy (JCSA)

This is a draft of the new informational website for JCSA. We will likely host it on the CASCA website. Though this site will be publicly viewable, it is intended primarily as information for New Committee Members. Please send comments to Matt if you have suggestions for improvements.

The JCSA is the Canadian space astronomy community's voice to Canadian Space Agency (CSA). It acts as a liaison between the Canadian Astronomical Society (CASCA) and CSA. The committee meets every few months by telephone conference and twice a year for a 1-2 day face-to-face meeting. One meeting traditionally takes place at the CASCA summer conference (June) and the other in fall (Nov/Dec), oftentimes in Montreal.

The JCSA's mandate

The present membership of the JCSA is published on the CSA website, http://www.space.gc.ca/asc/eng/sciences/committees-jcsa.asp
The JCSA membership normally consists of

As of 2007, the CSA took steps to make the committee's operation arm's reach from the CSA. CSA staff are no longer automatically invited to the meetings. This will allow the JCSA to discuss issues that may be sensitive to the CSA staff or program, if the need arises. Despite this new organization, the JCSA has typically found the participation of CSA staff extremely useful, and normally invites the Director of Space Astronomy (presently Alain Berinstain), and the space astronomy program scientists (presently Jean Dupuis and Denis Laurin). One of the program scientists typically acts as meeting secretary.

JCSA Public Reports

Information for JCSA Members

Mail Lists

Generic Agenda for JCSA Face-to-face Meetings

If you are a new committee members to the JCSA, here's what to expect during a 1-2 day meeting.

Mission updates for all funded CSA space astronomy contracts are requested from the mission PIs several weeks before the meeting. All members are expected to read every report, but two members are assigned to read each report in detail and present them in the mission review session. If the members feel that there are any issues that require further information or presentations, the PIs for these missions are requested to attend the meeting and present a brief (10-20 minute) update. For missions that do not have outstanding issues, an effort will be made to hear in-person updates from each mission PI roughly every 2 years.

Accessing Reports through the CSA Intranet

Mission update reports and other information for JCSA meetings are posted on the CSA intranet at http://extranet.space.gc.ca/SSAC . This is a password protected site. JCSA members will receive a username and password from the CSA program officer (presently Jean Dupuis). Some members have reported problems navigating the site. To access the reports

The extranet works well with Windows Explorer and Mozilla, though members have had trouble accessing it with Safari or Camino (Mac OS). CSA will resolve this issue soon.

CSA AOs and Fellowships

One of the most important roles of the JCSA is to steward the CSA funding opportunities and fellowships as they pertain to space sciences. It is important that all members are familiar with these programs.

Relevant Links

Last updated Sept 2007, Nov 2007 by M. Dobbs