The Canadian Space Agency has awarded a pre-phase A contract to MDA for Canadarm3 integration support. It is the first Lunar Gateway contract awarded under Canada’s $2.05 billion long term commitment to the Moon.
The contract comes less than a month after the government announced that MDA had been selected to be the prime contractor for Canadarm3.
SpaceQ learned of the contract on Friday, July 24th through the governments Buy and Sell website as no announcement has been made by the government or MDA as of yet. The contract is valued at $1.15 million.
SpaceQ contacted the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) for additional details on the contract, as there is no information listed in the tender award notice other than noting it was simply an engineering contract.
In addition to informing SpaceQ that the contract was for the Canadarm3, the CSA provide details as to what MDA will be doing under the contract:
MDA will:
- Develop recommendations regarding modifications to Gateway partner element concepts that will have an impact on Canadarm3;
- Continue to prepare the International Docking Systems Standard for vehicles that will be berthed to the Gateway lunar station; and
- Assist the CSA in supporting international partner requirements and design activities, including refining concepts to support partner development activities.
In the original government Lunar Gateway Robotics – Canadarm3 Letter of Interest tender notice outlined the following proposed elements of the Canadarm3 robotic system;
- The eXploration Large Arm and its Tools (XLA): Allows the system to perform inspection and maintenance operations, deploy payloads, capture and berth visiting vehicles, support Extra Vehicular Activities (EVAs), reconfigure the Gateway and assemble Lunar Landers.
- The eXploration Dexterous Arm (small arm or XDA): Enhances the capabilities of the large arm and performs its maintenance, possibly capable of supporting payload exchanges through a Gateway airlock.
- Various Robotic Interface Fixtures, Platforms and Receptacles: Needed on the different Gateway modules, components and on the robotic system itself. These will ensure the required mobility for the two arms to perform their work, enable payload manipulation and provide worksites for experiments.
- Ground Segment and Robotic Integration: Ground infrastructure that will provide planning, monitoring, commanding, training and visualization functions in support of operating the Robotics system from Canada; Support in integrated planning of Gateway assembly, logistics and utilization; will enable and manage the configuration of external science platforms.