Canada’s role and potential involvement in the growing new space economy requires a commitment from the Government of Canada for a new space strategy, the Group President of MDA, a Maxar company, said in a speech to the Aerospace, Defence and Security Expo.
“The most pressing question is whether Canada will participate, or not, in the international space community’s next big exploration project,” said Mike Greenley, Group President of MDA. “The United States, Europe, Japan and Russia are currently planning a return to the Moon in the 2020s. NASA will build a small space station that orbits the Moon, as a base for lunar exploration and as a Gateway to explore deeper space. The international community expects Canada to participate in this mission and to provide advanced AI and robotics – our traditional and strategic role.”
Greenley said the international community expects and wants Canada to participate.
“Making a commitment to participate in the Lunar Gateway as part of the upcoming space strategy would signal to the world that Canada plans to claim its place in the new space economy,” Greenley said. “The current space-related global market opportunity is commonly estimated to be US$380 billion, which analysts forecast will grow to be a multi-trillion-dollar market in coming decades.”
Greenley said the needed commitment is not enormous.
Part of Canada’s commitment would help fund Canadarm 3, the next generation of the iconic Canadian technology featured prominently on the Canadian 5 dollar bill.
“The next generation of Canadarm would provide highly visible, innovative and critical Lunar Gateway operations, including the assembly of the Gateway itself (and its ongoing maintenance), the capture of visiting spacecraft; and would enable science to be conducted in the lunar vicinity,” Greenley said.
Greenley said MDA and other partners in the Canadian space industry will spend the summer and fall of 2018 talking to Canadians and elected officials about the possibilities of space.
About MDA
MDA is an internationally recognized leader in space robotics, space sensors, satellite 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.
