Canadian Space Agency Leads Canada's Delegation at the Third United Nations Conference on Space.

SAINT-HUBERT, Quebec--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 19, 1999--

The Canadian Space Agency's President, Mac Evans, and thirteen Canadian partners from government and Canadian industry participated today in the official opening of the Industrial Exhibition of the Third United Nations' Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE III), taking place in Vienna, Austria, from July 19 to 30, 1999. The theme of UNISPACE III is "Space Benefits for Humanity in the 21st Century".

UNISPACE III aims to provide a forum constructing a practical, well-defined framework for the global society to maximize the benefits of space science and technology through international co-operation in space activities. It is also the first conference which both the space industry and others interested in civil space have been invited to participate as partners of the United Nations.

"Canada is a world leader in space in such fields as satellite communications, Earth observation, space science and robotic technologies," commented Mac Evans. "UNISPACE III provides a unique venue for government and industrial representatives from around the world to see how we can better apply space science and technology for the benefit of humanity an objective that embodies the very mission of the Canadian Space Agency".

A key element of the UNISPACE III Conference is an Industrial Exhibition. The Exhibition brings together space industry leaders from around the world and over 2,000 senior company executives and political representatives from the 185 member countries of the United Nations. The Canadian Space Agency is the main participant of the Canadian "space team" pavilion. Other Government participants include: the Communications Research Centre of Industry Canada, and Geomatics Canada of Natural Resources Canada. Industrial players are made up of CAE Electronics, COM DEV, CRESTech, EMS Technologies, MacDonald Dettwiler & Associates, Nortel Networks, Safework, SpaceBridge Networks, PCI Geomatics, Telesat Canada and TMI Communications.

Canadian Space Agency astronaut Chris Hadfield, who is currently preparing for his second mission where he will perform the first space walk by a Canadian astronaut, will also be present at the Canadian Pavilion for part of the Industrial Exhibition. "Attending the event will allow me to witness the extraordinary international co-operation for peaceful space exploration being pursued. Such co-operation means that more people will benefit from the progress we are making in and through space," stated the Canadian Space Agency astronaut, prior to leaving for UNISPACE III.

The United Nations has only held two space conferences in the past in 1968 and 1982, both in Vienna. At UNISPACE III, the Canadian Space Agency will present a "National Paper on the Canadian Space Program", which provides an overview of the main elements of the Canada's policy in space, our accomplishments, objectives and future orientations.

Canada's space sector is making significant inroads into the expanding global space industry and, in the process, is making a substantial contribution to the national economy. Today, the space sector has revenues of more than $1.25 billion annually, of which 45 percent comes from exports - the highest percentage in the world. It also accounts for over 5000 jobs across the country in large and small companies from coast to coast.

The Canadian Space Agency, which manages all federal civil space expenditures, contracts out some 75-80 percent of its budget for projects involving industry, universities and specialized research institutes. The space industry invests more than $80 million annually in research and development thus making the space sector among Canada's most promising growth sectors, particularly for Canadian youth seeking careers in science and technology.

This year, the Canadian Space Agency celebrates ten years of excellence. Since its creation in 1989, the Agency has pursued a mission to develop and apply space knowledge for the benefit of Canadians and humanity.