MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd., a provider of essential information solutions, announced today it has received funding from the Canadian Space Agency to advance key technologies to meet current and future needs of the Canadian Space Program. The three contracts are funded under the Space Technologies Development Program.

MDA will develop solutions for future space exploration missions including a universal docking interface that will allow lunar vehicles to share resources such as power and data, and a vision system to locate and capture sample containers on the Moon or Mars for return to Earth. The third contract will further develop MDA’s next generation Wireless Synthetic Aperture Radar (WiSAR) technology by advancing a critical component that measures the shape of the antenna of the satellite, once in orbit.

‘These projects provide the opportunity for us to advance our remote sensing and robotics technology base to meet the needs of the Canadian Space Program and emerging commercial markets,’ said Steve Oldham, one of MDA’s vice presidents within the Information Systems group.

About MDA

MDA provides advanced information solutions that capture and process vast amounts of data, produce essential information, and improve the decision making and operational performance of business and government organizations worldwide.

Focused on markets and customers with strong repeat business potential, MDA delivers a broad spectrum of information solutions, ranging from complex operational systems, to tailored information services, to electronic information products.

MDA employs more than 3,200 people in locations across the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada. The Company’s common shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol TSX:MDA.