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Defence and Discovery

Canada’s Military Space Program, 1945-74
Language: English
Published/Copyright: 2011

About this book

The space race between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War is well documented, but few are aware that Canada, too, was an early contender in space exploration. Indeed, in 1962, Canada bested the more powerful United Kingdom to become the third nation to reach outer space.

Defence and Discovery presents the first comprehensive investigation into the origins, development, and impact of Canada’s space program. Through meticulous research, including newly declassified material, it demonstrates the central role of the military in Canada’s early space research. Moreover, it reveals the technological, political, and strategic implications of the country’s early innovation in space-research technology, and its subsequent turn from this arena.

A striking contribution to Canada’s military and political history, Defence and Discovery illuminates a significant yet understudied period in Canada’s growth as a nation.

Author / Editor information

Andrew B. Godefroy is a strategic analyst and historian with the Department of National Defence, as well as the editor-in-chief of the Canadian Army Journal. He previously served with the Directorate of Space Development, National Defence Headquarters, and was an official historian for the Canadian Space Agency.

Reviews

Andrew Godefroy does a terrific job of presenting a very complicated story ... Quest readers, in particular those interested in military space history which generally focuses on the American and Soviet programs, will find this book breaking new ground. --- Godefroy has translated his lifelong fascination with space and his expertise, garnered from working in the Canadian Force’s Directorate of Space Development, into a fascinating story of Canada’s important contributions to defence on the “final frontier.” ---

Godefroy’s relentless pursuit of the details of the history of Canada’s military space program has resulted in a profoundly original work that makes a significant contribution not only to the history of science and technology, but also to international history more generally ... non-specialists will have to work to get through this book, and I fear that too many Canadians might not have the patience to do so ... that is a real shame, because if they were to learn even half as much as I have, they would be significantly better placed to participate in discussions of international policy in Canada in the future.

---

Godefroy meticulously plots Canada’s involvement in space research... it is an extremely well-researched and well-written historical analysis, that will most likely appeal to those interested in Canadian scientific achievements such as the Avro Arrow.

Topics

  • Publicly Available

    Front Matter

    i
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    Contents

    v
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    Figures

    vii
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    Acknowledgments

    ix
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    Abbreviations

    xiii
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    Chronology of Canada’s Rocketry and Space Program

    xv
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    Introduction

    1
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    Cold War Security and Aerospace Defence Research Prior to Sputnik

    7
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    Missiles, Rocketry, and the Development of the Black Brant Launcher

    33
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    Defence and Discovery: Canada’s Early Space Policies

    68
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    Forging a Spacefaring Nation: The Alouette-ISIS Program

    95
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    Canada’s Militarization and Weaponization of Space

    121
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    The Demise of Canada’s Cold War Space Programs

    152
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    National Interests and a New Agenda for Outer Space

    173
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    Conclusion

    191
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    Members of the Associate Committee on Space Research, 1959–63

    194
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    A Note on Sources

    195
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    Notes

    199
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    Bibliography

    219
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    Index

    228
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    Studies in Canadian Military History

    238
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Publishing information
Pages and Images/Illustrations in book
eBook published on:
August 9, 2023
eBook ISBN:
9780774819619
Pages and Images/Illustrations in book
Main content:
240
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https://doi.org/10.59962/9780774819619
eBook ISBN: 9780774819619
Audience(s) for this book
For an expert adult audience, including professional development and academic research
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