MDA Ltd. (TSX:MDA), a leading provider of advanced technology and services
to the rapidly-expanding global space industry, today announced that it has
been awarded a $35.3 million [US $28.1 million] contract from the Canadian
Space Agency (CSA) for the design of the Gateway External Robotics
Interfaces (GERI), a key component of Canadarm3 which will be installed on
the international Lunar Gateway.
MDA has completed Phase A, the system definition phase of this GERI project.
This new contract award covers the preliminary and detailed design of the
robotic interfaces (Phases B and C), valued at $35.3 million [US $28.1
million].
“Canada is renowned for its ability to deliver advanced operational robotic
systems for the most demanding international space missions and MDA is hard
at work to develop Canadarm3 to support hundreds of future missions to and
from the International Gateway. We are incredibly proud of our partnership
with the Canadian Space Agency, and we look forward to leveraging this
technology and know-how into commercial space markets while creating jobs in
Canada,” CEO Mike Greenley said.
Today’s contract announcement is the third contract awarded to MDA in
conjunction with the multi-year, multi-phase $1 billion plus [US $796.9
million] Canadarm3 program. MDA expects that a series of ongoing contracts
will be issued in line with the major program phases and milestones.
Canadarm3 is Canada’s contribution to Gateway, a key element of Artemis, the
NASA-led program to establish a sustainable presence on and around the Moon.
Once completed, the Gateway will serve as a Moon-orbiting outpost that will
sustain human presence on the Moon and as a staging point for the next
generation of deep space exploration. In 2020, the Government of Canada
announced its intention to enter into a contract with MDA to build
Canadarm3.
The Gateway External Robotics Interfaces will provide critical connection
points between Canadarm3’s large arm and small dextrous arm and items they
attach or handle including the Gateway’s modules, payloads, replacement
units and visiting spacecraft. The interfaces will also allow Canadarm3 to
effectively walk around the outpost to perform external inspection,
maintenance, repair and logistic activities; assemble and reconfigure the
space station; capture and dock visiting spacecraft; load and unload
payloads and science experiments; and support astronaut spacewalks.
These standardized connection points will be delivered in advance of
Canadarm3 and installed on international partner-contributed modules. This
early delivery will support the planned 2024 launch dates for NASA’s
Habitation and Logistics Outpost (HALO) and the Power and Propulsion Element
(PPE), currently under development.
Canadarm3 is the third generation robotic technology developed by MDA to
serve as Canada’s contribution to an international space exploration
endeavour. This advanced AI-enabled robotic system will be
highly-autonomous, allowing the robotic elements to perform operations and
make decisions during long periods when there is no contact with the
Canada-based ground control operations centre.
With unmatched space operations capabilities supporting decades of
international space missions, the Canadarm3 program will further strengthen
Canada’s global leadership in mission-critical space robotics. The program
will also position MDA for further expansion into the rapidly emerging
global space market.
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