US: MDA, a Maxar Technologies company, applauds remarks made by the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development during his May 25announcement of new investments in innovative Canadian space technologies at MDA’s Montreal facility. Minister Bains announced the award of more than $26.7 million CAD in contracts to 33 Canadian companies, of which MDA received five contracts totaling more than $4 million CAD.
“Nearly every aspect of our daily lives is touched and made better by space innovation,” said Minister Bains. “Space is an economic powerhouse for Canada,” both in jobs and economic revenue, he added.
“As a recipient of five Space Technology Development Program awards from the Canadian Space Agency under this investment, we are delighted to further our development in space robotics for deep space exploration, space debris removal and satellite antenna advancements,” said MDA Group President Mike Greenley. “It is imperative to continue accelerating the next generation of innovation in space technology to bring about advances here on Earth and build a better world.”
After his remarks, Minister Bains, Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, and members of the media toured MDA’s satellite manufacturing facility, where engineers are completing development of the RADARSAT Constellation Mission (RCM) spacecraft the company is building for the Canadian Space Agency. The three satellites are being prepared for launch later this year to enhance the Canadian government’s national security and environmental applications.
“Once launched, the RADARSAT Constellation Mission will provide information on our planet for maritime surveillance, and monitoring our ecosystems and agriculture, as well as the impacts of climate change, Hansen said. “These three satellites are actually being tested right here at MDA, and I am looking forward to seeing Canada’s future eyes on the Earth.”
MDA is one of four companies within Maxar Technologies, a global leader in satellites, Earth imagery, robotics, geospatial data and analytics. Together these companies are accelerating innovation for the new space economy and helping customers anticipate and address their most complex mission-critical challenges with confidence.
