Space astronomy

Observations from space are a key aspect of astronomy for the well-known reasons of freedom from atmospheric weather, absorption and distortion. Access to, and participation in space observatories are an essential element of the LRP, for the entire range of astronomical research interests. Canada has played a significant role in past and ongoing space observatories, even as a very minor (~5%) partner, and has earned a deserved reputation for hardware, data handling, and scientific exploitation. The funding and support for these has largely come through the CSA, but the CSA budget for space science has eroded over the past decade or more, to the point of major concern. During the period of LRP2010, CSA has funded one very minor new facility - Hitomi - which had a disastrously short lifetime. The remaining LRP2010 priorities remain uncommitted, in spite of widespread interest and detailed studies. The decade ahead has major challenges if Canada is to have a viable and leadership role in space astronomy. This paper enumerates the issues and suggests what needs to be done to achieve a worthy space science program.White paper identifier W00