MDA Space Secures $32M Contract to Deploy Three Optical Observatories by 2028
MDA Space won a $32 million contract to build three Ground-Based Optical observatories for Canada’s Department of National Defence under the Surveillance of Space 2 program. By 2028, MDA will install and sustain observatories in Alberta, Manitoba and New Brunswick to augment the Sapphire satellite’s deep-space tracking capability.
1. Contract Award and Value
MDA Space has been awarded a $32 million contract by Canada’s Defence Investment Agency to deliver three Ground-Based Optical (GBO) observatories under the Surveillance of Space 2 program for the Department of National Defence.
2. Observatory Deployment and Locations
The observatories will be remotely operated installations located in Alberta, Manitoba and New Brunswick, designed to provide persistent ground-based space surveillance that complements Canada’s existing Sapphire satellite capabilities.
3. Operational Support and Sustainment
As part of the agreement, MDA Space will operate and provide in-service support for the GBO sites, ensuring long-term sustainment and continuous data provision to the Canadian Armed Forces.
4. Strategic Impact on Space Surveillance
The new GBO network is intended to strengthen Canada’s space domain awareness, enabling detection, tracking and characterization of deep-space objects to address emerging security threats to critical space infrastructure.