Ottawa, ON, October 23, 2025 – The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) has awarded a $5.4 million contract to the Thin Ice Clouds and Far InfraRed Emissions (TICFIRE) instrument as part of Canada’s contribution to NASA’s High-altitude Aerosols, Water vapour, and Clouds (HAWC) mission. This funding supports the development of TICFIRE, which will be launched aboard NASA’s Atmospheric Observing System (AOS) satellite.

TICFIRE is one of three Canadian instruments designed to enhance our understanding of atmospheric processes. The instrument will work in conjunction with the Aerosol Limb Imager (ALI) and Spatial Heterodyne Observations of Water (SHOW) to provide critical data on aerosols, water vapour, and cloud formation. This data is vital for improving weather prediction models, climate research, and air quality forecasting.

The HAWC mission is a collaborative effort involving Canadian universities, federal agencies, and industry partners. It underscores Canada’s commitment to advancing climate science and contributing to international space exploration initiatives.

For more information on the HAWC mission and its objectives, please visit the Canadian Space Agency’s official website.