Robust domestic capability across the space domain is a key development priority for Canada. Yesterday, the Canadian government made another commitment toward that goal.
MDA Space, a Canadian space tech company best known for the Canadarm robot-arm program, won a $44.7M CAD ($32M) contract from the Canadian government to supply parts for a new RADARSAT EO satellite.
- MDA is also the intended recipient of an additional contract, for the satellite delivery itself.
- This would add on to the three-satellite RADARSAT Constellation Mission (RCM), which launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in 2019 and which MDA also manufactured.
- RCM follows on from previous EO satellites RADARSAT (retired) and RADARSAT-2 (still operating nearly 18 years after its launch).
“Through these investments, we are strengthening Canada’s space sector and ensuring Canadians continue to benefit from the satellite data that supports essential everyday services,” Canadian Minister of Industry Mélanie Joly said in a release.
“In doing so, we are strengthening Canada’s sovereign satellite capabilities and equipping Canadian industry and governments with the tools to protect communities, support decision-making, and keep Canada secure.”
Canada’s space progress: The US’ neighbor to the north has long been a partner and friend to the American space sector, working closely with NASA and US commercial space firms. But the country lately has been looking to spread its wings alone, and with other partners. (It just made a historic investment in ESA, after all.)
The Canadian government announced a $1B CAD ($716.4M) RADARSAT+ initiative in October 2023 for the new RCM satellite, to define the next generation of sats beyond RCM, and to support domestic EO missions for civilian and military purposes over the following 15 years.
This new contract with MDA is a part of that long-term program, and it’s designed to continue to bring Canada the data it needs from within its own borders—an especially crucial goal during sovereignty discussions, as Canada in part uses satellites to secure its remote north.
+ Market check: The news led to a bump in the company’s stock price. $MDA.TO ended the day trading up ~11%.
