MDA extends satellite operations capability through contract award by the Canadian Space Agency

MDA today announced that it has been awarded a contract by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) to provide satellite flight operations and data management services for the Agency’s Earth observation and space situational awareness satellite missions.

MDA will provide spacecraft health monitoring and control, operational analysis, basic system maintenance, data order handling, image quality control and data processing and archiving for the RADARSAT Constellation Mission (RCM), SCISAT and NEOSSat from the CSA’s Multi-Mission Control Centre in Longueuil, Quebec.

MDA has partnered with two leading Canadian space firms – Calian Advanced Technologies and Mission Control Space Services – to deliver this service.

The total estimated contract price is valued at CAD$36.6M excluding taxes and covers a three-year period, with an option to renew the contract for up to two additional years.

MDA was the Prime Contractor for the RADARSAT Constellation Mission, Canada’s third generation radar satellite system. Since its successful launch in June 2019 and commissioning later in 2019, MDA has been providing satellite operations services on this mission. This contract will extend MDA’s key role in RCM operations, and expands MDA’s leadership in satellite operations.

SCISAT, launched in 2003, is an atmospheric research satellite that helps Canadian and international scientists improve their understanding of the depletion of the ozone layer, with a special emphasis on the changes occurring over Canada and in the Arctic.

Launched in 2013, NEOSSat (Near-Earth Object Surveillance Satellite) was the world’s first space telescope dedicated to detecting and tracking asteroids and satellites.

Under separate contract to Canada’s Department of National Defence, MDA also operates Sapphire, Canada’s surveillance of space satellite which shared a launch vehicle with NEOSSat, as well as MDA’s own Earth observation satellite, RADARSAT-2.