MDA Space announced today that it had been awarded a contract from by SWISSto12 to provide antenna systems for three geostationary orbit HummingSat satellites.
SWISSto12 is developing a “next-generation Radio Frequency payload technologies” that are hosted on a new low-cost small satellite platform, HummingSat, designed for geostationary satellites.
Under the contract, MDA Space “will design and build high-performance L-Band navigation antennas, leveraging the company’s leading-edge products already supplied for multiple global navigation and Mobile Satellite Service (MSS) missions. MDA Space will also design and configure the innovative packaging concepts that are required on the GEO SmallSat platform.”
According to MDA Space, “The satellites will be deployed as part of the Inmarsat-8 program to provide crucial safety services and support advances in emergency tracking.”
“MDA Space has an established reputation for leveraging our best-in-class design and manufacturing capabilities to support safety critical missions and we look forward to working with SWISSto12 to extend these capabilities,” said Mike Greenley, CEO of MDA Space. “Our track record of delivering on multiple constellation missions to both government and commercial partners positions us to further capitalize on repeat orders in this growing GEO SmallSat market.”
The value of the contract was not released. The antennas will be built, assembled and tested at the MDA Space satellite production facility in Montreal. The three Inmarsat-8 satellites are scheduled for launch in 2026.