Consular Space Agency
Agence de l'espace consulaire | |
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| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | ASQ |
| Formed | November 3, 1958 |
| Type |
|
| Jurisdiction | Administration of Technology and Innovation |
| Headquarters | Quebecshire City |
| Official language | Quebecshirite |
| Alphonse Fournier | |
| Director | Laure Deniaud |
| Deputy Director | Martin Brodeur |
| Owner |  Quebecshire |
| Employees | 15,853 |
| Website | aec.gouv.qs |
The Consular Space Agency (Quebecshirite: Agence de l'espace consulaire) (AEC) is an agency of the Quebecshirite Administration of Technology and Innovation responsible for Quebecshire's space program and aeronautics research. Established in 1958, it combined civilian and military efforts in space development (often led by the Administration of National Defence). During its early years, the AEC led Quebecshirite development of satellite and spacecraft technology as well as all Quebecshirite space exploration efforts, including Project Sérénité (responsible for Quebecshire's moon landings), the Orion space station, and the TBDSPACESHUTTLE. In the present, the AEC maintains large portions of the TBDINTERNATIONALSPACESTATION and operates the Flèche VI rocket launch system along with the TBDSPACESHUTTLE to send astronauts to the TBDINTERNATIONALSPACESTATION.
Additionally, the AEC operates several scientific research programs aimed at understanding phenomena in space and on Terraconserva. The AEC's space exploration and research legacy includes the development of the Corsaire probes, the first man-made objects to reach the outer solar system, as well as the Guérin Space Telescope and several probes and rovers to gather data. The AEC has overseen 1,000 uncrewed missions into Terraconserva orbit or beyond since its creation in 1958.
The AEC is headquartered in Quebecshire City, with its main mission control center being located in Sherbrooke. The AEC's primary launch facility is the Sherbrooke Space Center, located 11km from downtown Sherbrooke, as well as the neighboring Lefèvre Launch Station. The AEC operates several astronaut training facilities at the Sherbrooke Space Center and conducts all space shuttle launches at Sherbrooke. As of 2019, Laure Deniaud is the Director of the AEC.
