NASA Awards MDA $21 Million Service Contract for International Space Station
BRAMPTON, Ont.—- MacDonald Dettwiler subsidiary, MD Robotics has received a $21M contract
from NASA Johnson Space Center to supply sustaining engineering services on the Robotic Work
Station (RWS) for the International Space Station through to the end of 2002.
Under the terms of the contract, MD Robotics will provide management and engineering resources and
services to ensure the integrity of RWS hardware, software and ground support equipment. The
contract provides for product improvements and enhancements, flight spares, and integration and test
activities in preparation for launch of the first RWS unit early in 2001.
The RWS provides 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. The RWS incorporates the most stringent safety,
operational and technological requirements and features. Astronauts will use the Robotic Work Station
to operate the Mobile Servicing System, Canada?s contribution to the International Space Station.
In 1996, NASA contracted with MD Robotics to design and build two flight Robotic Work Stations. The
award of this contract follows successful formal customer acceptance and delivery of those units
earlier this year.
“This is a significant step forward for MD Robotics in establishing a leading sustaining engineering role
on the space station program,” said Mag Iskander, vice president and general manager of MD
Robotics. “For nearly 30 years we have supported NASA on the Canadarm program and look forward
to continuing this relationship on the RWS and expanding this core business.”
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 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.
