Launch window targeted for Q4 2025
BRAMPTON, ON, Oct. 25,
2023 /PRNewswire/ - MDA Ltd. (TSX: MDA), a
leading provider of advanced technology and services to the rapidly
expanding global space industry, announced today at its Earth
Insight customer conference that it has selected SpaceX to be the
launch service provider for CHORUS, MDA's next generation Earth
observation constellation. CHORUS is targeted to launch on SpaceX's
Falcon 9 rocket in the Q4 2025 launch window from Florida.
A collaborative multi-sensor constellation, CHORUS will bring
together diverse and unique imagery and data sources and provide a
new level of near real-time insight and innovative Earth
observation services. Operating in a unique mid-inclination orbit,
CHORUS will be able to image day or night, regardless of weather
conditions, with daily access of up to 95% of the coverage area.
From an industry-leading 700km-wide imaging swath down to sub-metre
high resolution, CHORUS will provide the most extensive and
unrivalled Earth observation radar imaging capacity available on
the market in a single mission.
"The production of CHORUS is well underway and we are looking
forward to once again working with SpaceX to launch our next
generation Earth observation capability," said Mike Greenley, CEO of MDA. "The Earth is big,
dynamic and evolving daily, and our ability to see, measure and
analyze what is happening in near real-time – and over time – is
imperative to meeting the needs of our global customer base. The
insight that CHORUS will provide to governments, companies and
organizations around the world will drive decisions and action, and
will help to solve some of the biggest problems facing our
planet."
In 2013, MDA became the first commercial customer to launch on
SpaceX's Falcon 9. Designed and manufactured by SpaceX, Falcon 9 is
the world's first and only orbital class reusable rocket.
With multiple sensors operating in a unique mid-inclination
orbit, CHORUS will support higher imaging frequency between the
mid-latitude areas of the northern and southern hemispheres. With
tipping and cueing techniques, higher imaging performance, more
imaging time per orbit, fast-tasking, faster delivery timelines and
near real-time data exploitation aided by machine-learning and
artificial intelligence, CHORUS will offer advanced, innovative
Earth observation services, including:
- Protection of national security and sovereignty by providing
critical time-sensitive data and intelligence on maritime and land
activities;
- Detection of illegal activities such as overfishing,
deforestation or bilge water dumping;
- Monitoring of critical infrastructure, transportation
corridors, coastal erosion, land subsidence and the effects of
climate change;
- Provision of timely information to support humanitarian aid and
disaster response in the aftermath of floods, earthquakes,
hurricanes, volcanoes and marine oil spills; and
- Routine systematic observations for a variety of natural
resources, industrial and geographic applications including
agriculture, forestry, mining and exploration activities.
Through Canada's successful
RADARSAT program, MDA has created an internationally recognized
reputation for excellence in near-real time, broad area, commercial
SAR data for mission critical applications. The RADARSAT series
includes RADARSAT-1 (1995), RADARSAT-2 (2007) and the RADARSAT
Constellation Mission (2019). CHORUS will be MDA's fourth
generation Earth observation mission.
Contact us to learn more about how to join the CHORUS
mission.
ADDITIONAL LINKS
CHORUS constellation video
ABOUT MDA
Serving the world from its Canadian home and global offices, MDA
(TSX:MDA) is an international space mission partner and a robotics,
satellite systems and geointelligence pioneer with a 50-year story
of firsts on and above the Earth. With over 2,800 employees across
Canada, the US and the UK, MDA is
leading the charge towards viable Moon colonies, enhanced Earth
observation, communication in a hyper-connected world, and more.
With a track record of making space ambitions come true, MDA
enables highly skilled people to continually push boundaries,
tackle big challenges, and imagine solutions that inspire and
endure to change the world for the better, on the ground and in the
stars. Learn more by visiting mda.space.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release contains forward–looking information within
the meaning of applicable securities legislation, which reflects
the Company's current expectations regarding future events.
Forward–looking information is based on a number of assumptions and
is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which
are beyond the Company's control, which could cause actual results
and events to differ materially from those that are disclosed in or
implied by such forward–looking information. Such risks and
uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the factors
discussed under "Risk Factors" in MDA's Annual Information Form
available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. MDA does not
undertake any obligation to update such forward–looking
information, whether as a result of new information, future events
or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable law.
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SOURCE MDA Ltd.