Canadarm2 developer MDA grabs 4-year contract to support Space Station

May 13, 2008

MDA's Dextre, a special purpose multi-functional robot, was launched and installed on the International Space Station in March 2008.

On the heels of the Canadian government halting the purchase of MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates (MDA) by American military contractor Alliant Techsystems, the Canadian Space Agency has entered into a four-year contract with MDA valued at $109 million.

MDA will continue to provide logistics, sustaining engineering services for the Canadian-made Mobile Servicing System on the International Space Station (ISS), a sophisticated robotics system critical to its assembly, maintenance and servicing. It consists of three elements: Canadarm2, the Mobile Base System and Dextre. Canadarm2 and the Mobile Base System were delivered and installed on the Station in 2001 and 2002 respectively. Dextre, a special purpose multi-functional robot, was launched and installed in March 2008.

Under this contract, administered by Public Works and Government Services Canada, MDA will continue to provide systems engineering, general technical support and software maintenance and enhancement, and to deliver spares provisioning for Canadian robotic components orbiting on the ISS. This will allow Canada to continue to meet its robotics commitments to the station program.

Established in 1989, the CSA coordinates all civil, space-related policies and programs on behalf of the Government of Canada. By leveraging international cooperation, the CSA generates world-class scientific research and industrial development for the benefit of humanity.
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