(Brampton) Ontario company MDA Space has won a billion-dollar contract with the Canadian Space Agency which will allow it to lead the next phases of the design of the Canadarm3 robotic system.
MDA is building the Canadarm3 for use aboard the Gateway Station, a NASA-led collaboration to establish a space station in lunar orbit.
The Gateway Station is a key part of NASA’s Artemis program, whose goal is to return astronauts to the Moon.
The contract awarded to MDA includes funding for the final design phase, as well as construction, system assembly, integration and testing of the complete robotic system.
The Canadarm3 will include a large robotic arm, a smaller, more agile robotic arm and a set of specialized tools. Its operations will be conducted entirely from Canada. Its launch is planned for 2029, at the earliest.
The contract also includes planning and training of personnel for on-orbit mission operations.