MDA gets Canadian Space Agency contract for ISS

The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) has placed a four-year contract valued at $109 million with MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (MDA). MDA will continue to provide logistics, sustaining engineering services for the Canadian-made Mobile Servicing System on the International Space Station (ISS).

The Mobile Servicing System, a multi-faceted sophisticated robotics system, is Canada's main contribution to the International Space Station and is 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 on the Space Station in March 2008.

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 International Space Station. This will allow Canada to continue to meet its robotics commitments to the International Space Station program. Mag Iskander, executive vice president and general manager of MDA's Information Systems Business stated, "The renewal of this contract for another four years demonstrates the excellent level of service and co-operation between MDA, its subcontractors and the Customer."

REF XQQAS XQQSE