MDA awarded further work in satellite servicing demonstration for US Government

Nov. 20, 2013

MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. has been selected for additional robotics work for the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Phoenix Program. MDA has started work under the next phase of the Phoenix Program, with related contracts expected to total approximately US$10 million.  The work will be carried out by both MDA and SSL.

Already a key participant in the DARPA Phoenix program, MDA intends to provide a variety of servicing technologies and capabilities that build on MDA's world leading capabilities, which include a 35-year heritage of robotics development and recent on-orbit servicing demonstration successes. Details of the original announcement were provided in the Company's news release dated October 18, 2012.

Under these contracts, MDA seeks to develop advanced robotic tools, cameras, tool caddies and a new flexible, small robotic arm for the Phoenix mission.

"We are pleased to be providing the critical robotics for the Phoenix mission," said Don Osborne, MDA's vice president responsible for this business.  "The Phoenix mission aims to demonstrate several technologies and on-orbit operations."