NASA awards MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates $14.7 Million contract for Shuttle and Space Station sustaining engineering
MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates Ltd.
subsidiary, MD Robotics, has received a $14.7M (Cdn.) contract from
NASA Johnson Space Center to provide engineering support to robotics elements
on both the Shuttle and the rapidly developing International Space Station.
The contract will add to sustaining engineering services already provided
to NASA by MDA in support of the Canadarm, a vital component of the Shuttle,
and the Robotic Work Station, a recently delivered product destined for the
International Space Station. For these important manned spaceflight products,
MDA will provide management, engineering resources and services to maintain
the integrity of flight hardware, software and ground support equipment. The
contract also provides for product improvements and enhancements, flight
spares, and integration and test activities through to the end of 2002.
The Canadarm, a hallmark of Canadian technology, has been a key Shuttle
component since it first entered service in 1981. The four Canadarms are now
entering a very busy phase with the on-orbit assembly of the International
Space Station.
The Robotic Work Station is designed to provide vital display, control
and command links to the space station’s robotics, cameras, and video
equipment, allowing astronauts to perform difficult assembly and maintenance
tasks from within the safe confines of the space station.
“This contract clearly confirms MD Robotics’ leadership in developing,
managing and maintaining manned spaceflight robotics on both the Shuttle and
the International Space Station,” said Mag Iskander, vice president and
general manager of MD Robotics.
About MacDonald Dettwiler
MacDonald Dettwiler is an information company that provides essential
information from anywhere in the world for decision making in the workplace.
The Company operates its business through two principal groups: the
Information Products Group and the Information Systems Group. The Information
Products Group delivers essential land information products and services in
three categories including: legal information, asset information, and
geographical information.
The Information Systems Group provides mission critical information
systems to three major applications: monitoring activities on the planet,
managing mobile assets, and enabling the mobile workforce. MacDonald Dettwiler
employs 1700 people around the world through a network of offices,
subsidiaries, and distributors.
About MD Robotics
MD Robotics, a subsidiary of MacDonald Dettwiler, is the world’s leading
space robotics company, committed to offering hi-tech, sophisticated robotic
and engineering solutions for space and terrestrial applications.
About The International Space Station (ISS)
The International Space Station (ISS) is the largest and most ambitious
space program since the Apollo moon landings and the largest scientific joint
effort among nations in history. The International Space Station partners a
global team led by NASA. Countries participating in the program include the
United States, Canada, Japan, Russia, Brazil and a consortium of European
communities under the flag of the European Space Agency. Each of the
international partners is providing key elements to the program. The first
components of the station were placed in orbit in late 1998.
The space station will provide unique laboratories to conduct research in
fields such as astronomy, life sciences and materials, as well as locations to
assemble satellites and space platforms too large and fragile to launch
directly from Earth. The advanced technologies being used to construct the
station will find applications in many industries on earth.
Under contract to the Canadian Space Agency, MD Robotics designed and
developed the Mobile Servicing System (MSS), Canada’s contribution to the
International Space Station. The MSS is comprised of three components: the
Space Station Remote Manipulator System, the Mobile Base System and the
Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator. The components will be launched in
April 2001, February 2002, and October 2003 respectively.
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