New CSA president's first task is to develop Long-Term Space Plan

The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) has a new president, a proposed new governance structure and marching orders to develop a new Long-Term Space Plan. Dr Steve MacLean takes the reins at the CSA after an extended period of turmoil and strategic drift with a mandate from Industry minister Jim Prentice to make "sweeping changes" to revitalize the embattled agency.

MacLean's appointment follows the nine-month tenure of Guy Bujold, a career bureaucrat who took over as acting president after the abrupt departure of Larry Boisvert early this year (R$, January 21/08).

MacLean will be engaged in consultations and will use a new report and other planning preparations as a jumping off point. Over the past several months, an advisory committee has been preparing a report on a new governance structure for the CSA. The resulting document – The Way Forward – has been accepted by Prentice who says it will serve as a "sound base for our work together with Canadian industry".

"As one of Steve MacLean's first acts as new president, the CSA will begin consultations with stakeholders that will lead to a new Long-Term Space Plan – the fourth in the series – to be as influential for our generation of exploration and development as any plan that Canada has produced for charting our future in space," said Prentice at a September 2nd press conference at the headquarters of COM DEV International in Cambridge ON. "Time is of the essence and I look forward to the plan in the coming months."

The CSA currently works under the Canadian Space Strategy, which has been in effect since late 2003. It replaces the Long -Term Space Plans I & II.

Many, such as former CSA president Dr Marc Garneau, argue that Canada needs a national space policy as well as a framework document (R$, March 27/08).

It's also unclear whether the government will continue development of the Radarsat Constellation to succeed Radarsat II. The former Liberal government has approved $200 million towards the project but to date only a small fraction has been spent on feasibility studies.

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