Manitoba-designed satellite heading to International Space Station
A project created by students and faculty at the University of Manitoba will be blasting off into space later this spring to conduct research.
A Cube Satellite (CubeSat) known as Iris developed by the U of M has been selected by the Canadian Space Agency to be transported to the International Space Station. It will eventually be placed into space for asteroid research.
“It’s amazing to be able to say at 23 that I get to contribute to a satellite going into space,” said Andrew Bowman, project manager for the Iris CubeSat mission. “And for all of us who contribute to this, it's amazing to start our careers in aerospace engineering with an actual satellite actually going to the ISS and into space.”
Iris is roughly the size of a two-litre milk carton. Bowman said it will carry geologic samples and expose them directly to the sun. Images of the samples will be taken to be used for research back on Earth.
“They’re going to analyze how they age so that we can learn some things about how asteroids and the moon age under the effects of the sun in space,” Bowman said.
The Canadarm will be used to send Iris out into space for the research.
The launch is scheduled for June 1.
- With files from CTV’s Jon Hendricks
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Notorious serial killer Paul Bernardo moved to medium-security prison in Quebec
Notorious serial rapist and killer Paul Bernardo was moved to a medium-security prison in Quebec this week.

Special rapporteur David Johnston’s office hired crisis communications firm Navigator
Special rapporteur David Johnston has hired crisis communications firm Navigator, his office confirmed on Friday.
Here's what Nova Scotia's wildfires look like from outer space
Photos released by NASA taken from International Space Station show the immense scale of the wildfires in Nova Scotia, with billowing smoke engulfing the landscape.
Air Canada should face more consequences after two disruptions in a week, consumer advocate says
An airline consumer advocate says Air Canada should face tougher consequences for stranding passengers after two disruptions in a week.
Canada's 'unprecedented' fire season linked to climate change, will be the new normal: scientists
At the moment, wildfires are burning across six provinces and one territory in Canada — and they’re still spreading in what’s being called an unprecedented fire season. While firefighters work tirelessly to battle the merciless flames and prevent further destruction, scientists say the wildfires are linked to climate change and that this will be the new normal.
'Utterly disgusting': Canadian Army sergeant fined for 'anti-Jewish' comments
A 38-year-old sergeant in the Canadian Army was fined $3,000 and issued a severe reprimand after he made what a military judge described as 'utterly disgusting' anti-Jewish comments while conducting an infantry training course in 2021.
Experts warn of 'rapid' growth of IBD as number of Canadians diagnosed set to reach 470K by 2035
The number of people in Canada with inflammatory bowel disease is increasing rapidly and is expected to grow to 470,000 by 2035, according to a new report from Crohn's and Colitis Canada.
'Many, many lives turned upside down' by wildfires: N.S. premier
Nova Scotia’s premier says the “historic” wildfires in the province have caused a “breath-taking amount of damage.”
Trudeau raises Poland's democratic backsliding as prime minister visits Toronto
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he raised concerns about reports that LGBTQ2S+ rights and democracy are under threat in Poland during a Friday visit with its prime minister, Mateusz Morawiecki, in Toronto.