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“Lunar Exploration Accelerator Program”
MDA Awarded Initial Design Phase Contract for Lunar Rover

Engages expert pan-Canadian team of small businesses, scientists and academics

BRAMPTON, Ont. (MDA PR) — MDA Ltd. (TSX:MDA), a leading provider of advanced technology and services to the rapidly-expanding global space industry, today announced that it has been awarded a contract by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) to undertake a Phase A initial design study for a Canadian Lunar Rover mission to the Moon.

As part of the CSA’s Lunar Exploration Accelerator Program (LEAP), the Lunar Rover will advance eight key technologies that are foundational building blocks for planetary rovers, including mobility, communications, operations, thermal control for lunar night survival, power generation and storage, and semi-autonomous plus autonomous operations.

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  • November 11, 2021
Canadian Firm Developing Immersive Virtual Reality Camera Systems for Space Exploration

Montreal-based company’s virtual reality experiences promise to engage the public as never before

LONGUEUIL, Quebec (CSA PR) — Immersive virtual reality (VR) technology has transformed the entertainment industry and now has the potential to become a game-changer on how we experience space exploration. Today, the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, announced that Montreal’s Felix & Paul Studios is receiving a contribution worth $482,607 from the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) to further develop  VR camera technology that could capture and transmit high-quality footage from future international missions to the Moon and other deep-space destinations.

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  • August 18, 2021
ispace Begins Final Assembly of Lunar Lander Flight Model Ahead of First Mission
Hakuto-R spacecraft (Credit: ispace)

TOKYO (ispace PR) –- Today, ispace announced that it began the assembly of the flight model for its lunar lander, which is to be used in the company’s first mission scheduled to launch in 2022. This is a major engineering milestone in the development of the lander and part of the final stretch toward our first mission.

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  • July 24, 2021
Backgrounder: Canada Moves Forward with Plans to Explore the Moon

Canadian Space Agency Backgrounder

As many countries prepare for humanity’s return to the Moon, there is great potential for Canadian entrepreneurs and scientists to advance lunar science and technology, and be part of the highly competitive global supply chain to the Moon.

Today’s announcement highlights the Government of Canada’s latest support for Canada’s space industries and new opportunities to prepare Canadian entrepreneurs and scientists to take part in lunar exploration.

Demonstrating Canadian technology on or around the Moon

The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) is funding Canadian companies – through the Lunar Exploration Accelerator Program (LEAP) – to launch and demonstrate technology payloads on or around the Moon.

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  • May 26, 2021
Canada Moves Forward with Plans to Explore the Moon
This photograph of a nearly full Moon was taken from the Apollo 8 spacecraft at a point above 70 degrees east longitude. Mare Crisium, the circular, dark-colored area near the center, is near the eastern edge of the Moon as viewed from Earth. (Credits: NASA)

Government of Canada’s Space Strategy supports the future of space exploration, space science and technology and jobs.

LONGUEUIL, Que., May 26, 2021 – As we plan for humanity’s return to the Moon, there is great potential for Canadian entrepreneurs and scientists to advance lunar science and technology. Canadians will play an important role in the highly competitive and innovative global supply chain of the expanding new space economy.

That is why, the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry today announced investments of $3 million in technology initiatives for lunar exploration through the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).

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  • May 26, 2021
Mission Control Awarded $1.16M from Canadian Space Agency to Develop Payload Data Management System for Streamlining Operations in Lunar Missions

With the goal of contributing to the supply chains of companies offering commercial Lunar delivery services, Mission Control will develop and test a payload data management system to improve quality of service for payload customers.

OTTAWA, Ont. (Mission Control PR) — Mission Control Space Services Inc. (Mission Control) is pleased to announce a $1.16 million (US $931,850) contribution award from the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) to develop and commercialize a novel computing system for Lunar missions. This technology development funding is part of the CSA’s Lunar Exploration Accelerator Program and is intended to help Mission Control enter the supply chains of companies offering commercial Lunar missions. In this project, Mission Control will develop a dedicated flight computer that can be easily installed on Lunar spacecraft to manage data from multiple payloads and offer edge computing.

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  • March 16, 2021
CSA Awards 6 Lunar Science Instruments Study Contracts
The Moon as viewed by NASA’s Mariner 10 in 1973, well before research would find signs of rust on the airless surface. (Credits: NASA/JPL/Northwestern University)

LONGUEIUL, Quebec (CSA PR) — The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) is preparing Canada’s space community and collaborating sectors – including Canadian companies, universities, research institutions, and other organizations – for potential roles in the long-term exploration of the Moon. The Lunar Exploration Accelerator Program (LEAP) was created to provide a wide range of opportunities for Canadian science and technology activities in lunar orbit, on the Moon’s surface, and beyond.

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  • November 29, 2020
Two Canadian Technologies are Going to the Moon
The Moon seen from the International Space Station. The image was taken by ESA astronaut Paolo Nespoli during his second mission to ‘MagISStra’ on 20 March 2011. Paolo commented on the image: “Supermoon was spectacular from here!” (Credit: ESA/NASA)

LONGUEUIL, Quebec (CSA PR) — The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) is helping prepare Canada’s space industry for future missions to the Moon. The CSA is awarding $3.3 million in contributions to support the demonstration of two lunar technology payloads and their launch to the Moon.

This is the first time Canada will conduct a technology demonstration in lunar orbit and on the Moon’s surface. It represents a significant step in Canada’s participation in the next chapter of Moon exploration.

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  • November 1, 2020
Canadian Space Agency Signs Artemis Accords
Canadian Space Agency President Lisa Campbell signed the Artemis Accords on behalf of Canada. (Credit: Canadian Space Agency)

LONGUEIUL, Quebec (CSA PR) — The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) is working with national and international partners to write the next chapter of space exploration—sending humans to more distant destinations like the Moon and Mars.

Today, the CSA proudly joined other space agencies – NASA, the Australian Space Agency, the Italian Space Agency, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, the Luxembourg Space Agency, the United Arab Emirates Space Agency, and the UK Space Agency – in signing the Artemis Accords. This commitment is an important first step towards ensuring safe and sustainable exploration beyond Earth’s orbit.

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  • October 14, 2020
CSA Awards Mission Control Contract to Develop Lunar Surface Autonomous Science Payload
Rover prototype during testing. (Credit: Mission Control Space Systems)

OTTAWA, ONTARIO, FEBRUARY 25, 2020 (Mission Control Space Services PR) — Mission Control Space Services Inc. (Mission Control) is pleased to announce a contract awarded by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) for the development of a novel payload to advance lunar scientific exploration, the first contract to be awarded under the $150M CSA Lunar Exploration Accelerator Program (LEAP).

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  • February 27, 2020