January 16, 2025
Three recently launched research and development (R&D) microsatellites, known as the Gray Jay Pathfinder mission, will orbit in high latitudes to evaluate new technologies to provide situational awareness in the Arctic Circle for the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF).
Surveillance in the High Arctic is increasingly important for defence and security, due to the impacts of climate change, as well as increased access and traffic in the region. The CAF needs timely and accurate information on vessels in Canadian waters to maintain Canadian sovereignty and defend Canada.
This is the first time that the Department of National Defence (DND) and CAF has launched an Earth observation (or intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, ISR) satellite.
Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) is leading work on the Gray Jay satellites for DND/CAF, and the microsatellites will be operated by the Space Flight Laboratory (SFL) at the University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies (UTIAS). The $16.3-million satellites were also built in Canada by SFL. The Gray Jay cluster are considered microsatellites at approximately 30 kg each, and a little bigger than a shoebox (30 cm, by 30 cm, by 45 cm).
This animation shows how the Gray Jay satellites will test and evaluate a new system for surveillance in Canada’s High Arctic.
Gray Jay Pathfinder satellites - Transcript
[Music starts]
[Text on screen:] The Gray Jay Pathfinder satellites are testing a new system of monitoring in the High Arctic.
[Text on screen:] The three-satellite cluster detects a trespassing ship through its radio frequency emissions.
[Text on screen:] Then, the Gray Jay cluster communicates with the ground station.
[Text on screen:] After geolocation, the chief satellite rotates.
[Text on screen:] Then it forms an image of the target with its infrared camera.
[Text on screen:] This data will inform Canadian Armed Forces decision making.
[Music ends]
[Canadian Armed Forces signature]
[Canada wordmark]
[National Defence signature]
The main goal of the research is to evaluate the effectiveness of the cluster of three microsatellites to detect, geolocate and characterize ships and aircraft in the Canadian Arctic.
The satellites are in a polar low Earth orbit, that overflies the Arctic Circle. Their orbit is “sun synchronous”, which means they pass over a location at a given latitude at the same local solar time.
The two deputy satellites both have on-board propulsion, and orbit approximately 125 kilometres apart. The chief satellite follows the same track as the two deputy satellites approximately 625 kilometres behind the first. The second deputy can move up to 60 kilometres “across-track,” in a direction perpendicular to its orbit. The deputies will use their propulsion to maintain formation with the chief.
“The goal is to demonstrate and de-risk technologies for the Canadian Armed Forces through testing and evaluation of this mission,” explains Jeff Secker, the defence scientist leading the Gray Jay satellite mission for DRDC.
Each satellite has radio frequency sensors that can be used to detect and geolocate ships or aircraft and the chief satellite can gather more information on detected objects with its thermal infrared imager. The satellites communicate with ground stations across Canada, including one located in Inuvik, Northwest Territories.
The commissioning and demonstration of the satellites is planned for nine months. The remainder of the mission life of the satellites will be used to conduct space-based ISR research and development for continental defence. The data from these satellites will be used to inform CAF decision making on future capabilities.
Continued testing and evaluation using the Gray Jay microsatellites in orbit are part of a 20-year investment in science and technology for future continental defence capabilities, funded through NORAD modernization.
The three satellites launched in January 2025 on a ride share from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.