SpaceQ Space news and analysis.
MDA Space announced today that construction has started on an 185,000 square foot expansion of its satellite production facility in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec.
According to MDA Space, once the expansion is complete “it will be the world’s largest high-volume manufacturing facility in its satellite class.” The facility will then be able “to deliver up to two MDA AURORA digital satellites a day.”
Aurora is the name MDA Space gave to its new software-defined satellite product line in March of this year.
MDA Space added that, “The new facility is designed to be a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified building. The production line is expected to be operational in the second half of 2025.”
The expansion comes as MDA Space looks to fulfill its contract with Telesat to manufacture an initial 198 Lightspeed satellites for Telesat’s low Earth orbit constellation scheduled to deploy in mid-2026.
The news comes on the same day that Telesat announced that it had completed its $2.54 billion funding agreements with the Government of Canada and Quebec.
The company added that with the expansion, it will add “600 new high-skill technology jobs in Quebec.”
Mike Greenley, CEO, MDA Space stated, “The global satellite market is at an inflection point as satellite operators and customers shift to digital solutions like MDA AURORATM that offer greater performance and flexibility at a significantly lower cost. Our strategic investments in expanding our satellite production facility and team are ideally timed to solidify our market leadership position and expand the export and growth opportunities for the Canadian space industry in Quebec and across the country.”
Several politicians added their own statements to the news including François Legault, Premier of Québec. “This is good news for our economy. Not only are we consolidating 650 existing jobs, but we are also creating close to 1,000 high-paying jobs in a cutting-edge sector. It is also a strategic project for Québec. The message we are sending today with the Telesat/MDA project is that Québec continues to make its mark. The future of aerospace is happening right here in Québec!”
