Canada continues its strong momentum into the worldwide space robotics and telecommunications industry. As a G7 leader Canada was invited by NASA to join the Artemis program which will put Canadian astronaut boots on the moon with the United States. The Canadarm2 was designed, built, and tested and put to work by Brampton’s MDA. This resulted in a flurry of Canadian space led progress across the industry that is exploring new worlds.
Last year Canada announced it will join the United States on its aggressive endeavours to put humans back on the moon and eventually boots on Mars. Canada was the first country to commit to the NASA led Artemis program and will contribute a robotic arm to help astronauts succeed. NASA recently announced two Canadian astronauts will be part of those moon missions, a benefit for countries who invest internationally in advancing human space exploration.
A collaboration for MDA, General Motors, and Lockheed Martin Space Rover
This month MDA announced that it is working with Lockheed Martin and General Motors to integrate MDA’s commercial robotic arm technology on their planned human-rated lunar mobility vehicles.
The addition of MDA to the industrial lunar vehicle development team follows the announcement of a teaming agreement by Lockheed Martin and General Motors in 2021.
“We are thrilled to be collaborating with industry stalwarts Lockheed Martin and General Motors on this first-of-its-kind initiative to equip their lunar rovers with commercial robotic arms from MDA. We believe this collaboration will enable all three companies to continue to define the art of the possible, push the boundaries of space innovation, and provide the world’s astronauts with the technology they need to reach further than they ever have before.”
Mike Greenley, CEO of MDA
MDA and Canada join NASA on Artemis Moon Mission
The Artemis program is scheduled to send humans back to the surface of the Moon for the first time in decades. In 2025 space companies will explore and conduct scientific experiments using a variety of vehicles. The rovers would be permanently stationed on the surface of the Moon where they would be available for use by private and space agency astronauts.
“The Lunar Mobility Vehicle enables exploration of the surface of the Moon in multiple scales and in unprecedented fashion, both for human and robotic exploration and utilization. Bringing on MDA’s world-renowned robotics to this vehicle is a major enabler in its capability. Our industry-led commercial development, now with MDA, brings down the cost of access to the Moon for not just NASA, but for international and commercial customers and adds to a truly global Artemis program.”
Kirk Shireman, vice president of Lunar Exploration Campaigns at Lockheed Martin Space
Canada has been making massive strides in the space industry of late. With over 60 years of contributions to the International Space Program the country has become a robotic pillar of the space tech community. It will now take a stride forward in joining other countries exploring the moon with the design of a key moon landing sensor.
This time last year MDA went IPO after being purchased and brought back into Canadian ownership. No other company in Canada has been more integral creating space technology and driving the space exploration economy.
