MDA Space has opened the operations centre for its upcoming CHORUS Earth observation constellation in St-Bruno-de-Montarville, Quebec, on the south shore of Montreal, almost within shouting distance of the headquarters for the Canadian Space Agency.
The facility will serve as the control hub for the satellite network, bringing together the systems and staff required for command and control, mission assurance and data delivery. The opening marks a milestone ahead of the constellation’s planned launch in late 2026 and the start of commercial operations in early 2027.
CHORUS pairs a wide-area C-band radar satellite built by MDA Space with a high-resolution X-band satellite supplied by ICEYE. The dual-band system is designed for tipping and cueing: the leading C-band satellite scans a 700-kilometre swath, and tips off the trailing X-band satellite to zoom in on a target, capturing broad awareness and specific detail in a single pass. Both satellites use synthetic aperture radar, a sensor that maps the surface through cloud cover and darkness.
Mike Greenley, the chief executive, said the centre draws on the company’s orbital operations experience and “brings together the people, systems and infrastructure required” to manage the constellation.
The news release did not disclose the capital cost of the facility or the number of staff it will house. MDA Space, the builder of space robotics, satellite systems and Earth observation infrastructure, recently reported its second-quarter results, maintaining its schedule for the CHORUS program.