FARNBOROUGH, UK, July 18, 2018
/PRNewswire/ - MDA, a Maxar Technologies company (formerly
MacDonald, Dettwiler and
Associates Ltd.), (NYSE: MAXR) (TSX: MAXR), today announced that a
contract was signed between its recently acquired Neptec UK Ltd.
(Neptec) company and Effective Space, the UK company pioneering
last-mile logistics in space, for the supply of a space flight
LIDAR and infrared camera for its on-orbit servicing SPACE DRONE™
spacecraft.
Capable of extending the life of ageing satellites by as many as
15 years, the SPACE DRONE™ spacecraft uses MDA's LIDAR and
infrared camera to confidently and safely approach and dock with
orbiting geostationary satellites. Two SPACE DRONE™ spacecraft will
be launched into orbit in 2020, as part of a $100 million contract with a major regional
satellite operator. MDA will execute the project from its newly
expanded United Kingdom
business.
To allow the SPACE DRONE™ spacecraft to accurately approach
other spacecraft for servicing, MDA sensors will be used to
generate a 3D picture of the target spacecraft, providing critical
information on the distance to the other vehicle. Once docked, the
SPACE DRONE™ spacecraft will provide attitude and orbit control for
the combined vehicle, allowing the satellite to continue
operating.
The technology that will enable this mission was developed at
the laboratories on Harwell Campus
in the UK, through funding and support from the UK Space Agency.
The space LIDAR was designed to form part of an automated landing
system for a lunar lander. Capable of operating safely and reliably
in the harsh environment of space, LIDAR is also perfectly suited
for rendezvous and docking in Earth orbit. The LIDAR uses reflected
pulses of light from a laser to build a 3D map of any target, be it
the moon or another spacecraft.
"We are thrilled to be partnering with Effective Space on this
project," said Mike Greenley, group
president of MDA. The ability to perform safe rendezvous and
docking will be a vital part of future space exploration, whether
it is applied to extension of satellite life, de-orbiting space
debris, or building the next generation of space stations and human
outposts. We are fortunate to be able to immediately leverage
our recent expansion of MDA's UK business to exploit past
investments by the UK Space Agency, in full alignment with the UK
Space Agency's strategy to establish an on-orbit servicing
industrial capability. As the established world leader in space
sensors and robotics, we are pleased to expand this capability
through our UK business. "
"This mission, and others like it, will provide key steps
towards an exciting future for the burgeoning on-orbit servicing
market, and we are pleased to leverage MDA's technology base to
support UK companies such as Effective Space, and with MDA
playing a key role," said Kerry
Sanz, Programme Manager at MDA.
"Space exploration pushes the boundaries of human ingenuity and
produces new technologies that often have commercial applications,"
said Libby Jackson, Human
Spaceflight and Microgravity Programme Manager at the UK Space
Agency. This is a great example which highlights the value of our
investment in European Space Agency exploration programmes and the
capabilities of the UK's growing space sector."
"Ensuring our spacecraft are able to efficiently and safely
rendezvous with satellites was a critical requirement for us, and
NEPTEC's LIDAR and infrared camera technologies were the standout
choice," added Arie Halsband,
Founder and CEO, Effective Space. "MDA has extensive experience
developing solutions for some of the most challenging problems in
space and we're excited to be working closely with them to advance
on-orbit servicing."
About MDA
MDA is an internationally recognized leader in space robotics,
space sensors, satellite payloads, antennas and subsystems,
surveillance and intelligence systems, defence and maritime
systems, and geospatial radar imagery. MDA's extensive space
expertise and heritage translates into mission-critical defence and
commercial applications that include multi-platform command,
control and surveillance systems, aeronautical information systems,
land administration systems and terrestrial robotics. MDA is also a
leading supplier of actionable mission-critical information and
insights derived from multiple data sources. Founded in 1969, MDA
is recognized as one of Canada's
most successful technology ventures with locations in Richmond, Ottawa, Brampton, Montreal, Halifax and the United Kingdom. MDA is a Maxar Technologies
company (TSX: MAXR) (NYSE: MAXR). For more information, visit
www.mdacorporation.com.
About Maxar Technologies
As a global leader of advanced space technology solutions, Maxar
Technologies (formerly MacDonald,
Dettwiler and Associates) is at the nexus of the new space economy,
developing and sustaining the infrastructure and delivering the
information, services, systems that unlock the promise of space for
commercial and government markets. As a trusted partner, Maxar
Technologies provides vertically-integrated capabilities and
expertise including satellites, Earth imagery, robotics, geospatial
data and analytics to help customers anticipate and address their
most complex mission-critical challenges with confidence. With more
than 6,500 employees in over 30 global locations, the Maxar
Technologies portfolio of commercial space brands includes MDA,
SSL, DigitalGlobe and Radiant Solutions. Every day, billions of
people rely on Maxar to communicate, share information and data,
and deliver insights that Build a Better World. Maxar trades on the
Toronto Stock Exchange and New York Stock Exchange as MAXR. For
more information, visit www.maxar.com.
About Effective Space
Headquartered in the UK, Effective Space is pioneering last-mile
logistics in space. It deploys and operates a fleet of small SPACE
DRONE™ spacecraft that will deliver, position, maintain, monitor
and guarantee space assets in orbit and beyond.
Its 'Phase One' rollout is based on an existing solid business
case: life-extension services to operators of satellites in
geosynchronous-earth-orbit (GEO). Services include station-keeping
and attitude-control, relocation, orbit and inclination correction,
deorbiting and 'bringing into use' (BIU).
The SPACE DRONE™ platform is well capable of supporting evolving
Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) constellations,
Active Debris Removal (ADR), Lunar and Mars exploration, as well as
manufacturing and asteroid mining logistics.
For more information, visit https://www.effective.space and
follow on Twitter @Effective_Space
Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains forward-looking statements and
information, which reflect the current view of Maxar Technologies
Ltd. (the "Company") with respect to future events and financial
performance. The forward-looking statements in this regard
include statements regarding the award of a contract. Any such
forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current
expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions in light of
its experience and its perception of historical trends. The factors
and assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements in this
release include contracts not being terminated. Any such
forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially
from current expectations. The Company cautions readers that should
certain risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying
assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary significantly
from those expected. The risks that could cause actual results to
differ from current expectations include, but are not limited to:
risks associated with operating a satellite including in-orbit
failures or impaired satellite performance; quality issues, failure
of systems to meet performance requirements, potential for product
liability, or the occurrence of defects in products or systems
could result in lost revenue and harm to the Company's reputation;
failure of third parties and subcontractors; and failure to
anticipate changes in technology, technical standards and offerings
or compliance with the requisite standards, or failure to maintain
technological advances and offer new products to retain customers
and market position.
For additional information with respect to certain of these
risks or factors, plus additional risks or factors, reference
should be made to the Company's continuous disclosure materials
filed from time to time with Canadian and U.S. securities
regulatory authorities, which are available online under the
Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com, under the Company's EDGAR
profile at www.sec.gov or on the Company's website at
www.maxar.com.
Contact
Wendy Keyzer | MDA Media Contact
| 1-604-231-2743 | wendy.keyzer@mdacorporation.com
Jason Gursky | Maxar Investor
Relations | 1-303-684-2207 | jason.gursky@maxar.com
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SOURCE Maxar Technologies Ltd.