Arguably 2014 was a watershed year in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) military space program. Up until this year the military space program was focused on delivering capability that could be used by the Navy, Army and Air Force as joint force enablers but rarely were those capabilities tightly integrated into operations, nor were they exploited to their maximum advantage. To do so requires a …
Read More »The Canadian Space Agency Solicits Proposals for a Canada-Israel Space Mission
At the International Astronautical Congress held in Toronto last fall Canada and Israel signed an updated agreement on cooperation in space. This week the Canadian Space Agency released a request for proposals for a concept studies towards a Canada-Israel Space Mission (CISM).
Read More »KidsArm the First Image‑Guided Robotic Surgical Arm Undergoing Testing
In a spinoff from the robotic technology developed by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates (MDA) for the space program, a new robotic surgical tool, the KidsArm, is being tested for pediatric surgery at SickKids Hospital in Toronto.
Read More »COM DEV To Shut Down El Segundo Facility
As COM DEV announced its fourth quarter and year-end fiscal 2014 results today they announced that they would be closing their only U.S. facility in El Segundo, California effective March 16, 2015.
Read More »The Canadian Space Agency is Requesting Information for a new Space Station Life Science Research System
The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) in interested in broadening Canada’s contribution to the International Space Station by potentially building a new Life Science Research System capability.
Read More »Canadian University Demonstrates NanoSat Formation Flying First
The precise movements of a satellite in orbit is an orchestration of many variables, from gravity to positioning for solar power, communications and other factors. The precise movement of two satellites flying in formation in close proximity is another level of difficulty. It is a capability that the University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies (UTIAS) Space Flight Laboratory (SFL) recently demonstrated and which at …
Read More »The Transformation of MDA Into a Multinational Player – Part 1
In 2007 MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (MDA) made the assessment that the domestic space market wasn’t growing and that there was no long-term commitment to space by the Conservative government. As well, access to the U.S. market, critical for growth, was being stymied by the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and security issues. At the same time MDA’s Information Products group was growing …
Read More »Video: An Overview of MDA's Geospatial Services
MDA has released a 13 minute video outlining what its Geospatial Services unit does. In 2013 the unit generated $148.8 million in revenue, about 8.2% of the companies total revenue of $1.82 billion.
Read More »Neptec Awarded Contract for Compact Active Sensor Technology (CAST)
The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) has awarded Neptec Design Group Ltd. of Kanata, Ontario a contract valued at $344,852.57 for a concept study of a Compact Active Sensor Technology (CAST).
Read More »New Parliamentary Space Caucus Created
Conservative MP Jay Aspin (Nipissing-Timiskaming) announced on Wednesday, November 26 that he was the Chair of a new Parliamentary Space Caucus that will focus on the priorities of the space sector. Aspin is also the Co-Chair of the Parliamentary Aerospace Caucus.
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