Magellan Aerospace announced today the first launch of its MAC-200 Bus on the Cascade SmallSat and IOnospheric Polar Explorer (CASSIOPE) satellite from the Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA on a Falcon 9 launch vehicle.
CASSIOPE is a multi-purpose mission carrying 8 unique instruments to conduct space environment research (collectively called e-POP) and advanced telecommunications technology demonstration (termed Cascade).
Mr. James S. Butyniec, President and CEO of Magellan Aerospace said, “The successful launch of CASSIOPE yesterday is a great accomplishment that we celebrate with the Canadian Space Agency, MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (MDA), and all of the Canadian industrial contributors and scientists who contribute to advancing Canada’s space technology capabilities.”
In 2005, Magellan won a competitive process to develop a satellite bus with a flexible architecture that could be tailored to meet mission-specific requirements for Canada’s future space missions including CASSIOPE. The MAC-200 bus was designed to accommodate a range of mission requirements, instrument interfaces, and launcher environments in a cost effective manner. The MAC-200 utilizes a fully redundant cross-strapped architecture that is capable of providing high reliability for mission lifetimes of more than 7 years.
The CASSIOPE satellite bus was designed and built in Magellan Aerospace, Winnipeg. Magellan then supported both the integration and test of the e-Pop and Cascade payloads in Winnipeg and the spacecraft level testing at the David Florida Laboratory (DFL) in Ottawa, ON under contract to MDA.
In addition to the design, manufacture, and AIT of the bus for CASSIOPE, Magellan also designed and developed the in-flight computer and custom-build data handling card, flight software, mechanical and electrical ground support equipment, Command and Data Handling (C&DH) unit, elements of the e-POP payload, as well as the mechanically-designed deployable booms.
About Magellan Aerospace
Magellan Aerospace is a global, integrated aerospace company that provides complex assemblies and systems solutions to aircraft and engine manufacturers, and defense and space agencies worldwide. Magellan designs, engineers, and manufactures aeroengine and aerostructure assemblies and components for aerospace markets, advanced products for military and space markets, industrial power generation, and specialty products. Magellan is a public company whose shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: MAL), with operating units throughout Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, India, and Poland.
