Industry Tour: ComDev

Erik Minty CCES 96 Head Delegate

One of the most exciting parts of the entire conference for me was the industry tour of ComDev. To summarize what ComDev does, they produce satel-lite payloads.

After telling several people about this and receiving somewhat blank looks, I should probably explain that a satellite payload includes everything on-board a satellite that makes it useful. (i.e. everything that allows it to earn revenues.) The payload of the satellite will of course depend completely on the specific function the satellite is intended to perform.

In the case of Canada's newest satellite, RADARSAT, the payload would include the radar transmission and reception hardware, microwave circuitry, and lots of on-board DSP.

The tour of ComDev's facilities was very interesting. Almost half of their floor space seemed to be clean room (so we got to trapse around in those silly looking clean room clothes). This is because they are designing, building, assembling and testing highly sensitive equipment that is going to be subjected to the most extreme environmental conditions: During satellite launch there is extreme heat, vibration, and acceleration, and during orbit there is extreme radiation. No to mention that once the satellite is launched (at a cost of millions), they can't very well go up and fix anything that goes wrong.

ComDev is an exciting company developing exciting technology, and they are always looking for new graduates in our field. Feel free to come talk to me if you would like more information.

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