CTA (Canadian Target Assembly) was a optical target for the CANEX-2 experiments.
During Shuttle mission STS-52 an experimental machine vision system, called the Space
Vision System (SVS), was evaluated. Developed by the National Research Council of Canada,
Spar Aerospace Limited, and the Canadian Space Agency, the SVS uses a video camera to
monitor a pattern of target dots of known spacing arranged on an object to be tracked. As
the object moves, the SVS computer measures the changing position of the dots, and
provides information on the location and orientation of the object. This information will
help guide the Canadarm in berthing or deploying satellites. It is expected that the SVS
will be adapted for use on board the International Space Station.
For CANEX-2, the set of CANadian EXperiments to be conducted during STS-52, a target
satellite called the Canadian Target Assembly (CTA) which was specifically developed for
the SVS evaluation will be carried in the cargo bay. During the flight, a mission
specialist will use the Canadarm to deploy the CTA and take it through a series of
manoeuvres to evaluate the performance of the SVS.