Welcome to Biz Briefs! In this edition, SAIC and Qinetiq won a big defense contract, MDA acquired SatixFy’s digital payload division, Japanese space robotics company GITAI raised $15 million, and much more.

SAN DIEGO (Voyager Space PR) — Space Micro Inc., powered by Voyager Space, today announced the successful performance of its Software Defined Radios (SDRs) on Missile Defense Agency’s (MDA) CubeSat Networked Communications Experiment (CNCE) Block 1. Initially launched in June 2021 and completed in March 2022, CNCE Block 1, which is part of MDA’s Nanosat Testbed Initiative (NTI), used small, low-cost satellites to demonstrate networked radio communications between nanosatellites while in orbit.

MDA deployed two CubeSats developed by Space Micro with integrated radio frequency (RF) payloads based on its μSDR-C^™ family of small form factor software defined radios. MDA tested Space Micro’s SDRs at various distances, formations, and orientations, all of which successfully communicated with each other and ground nodes. This demonstration helps support the development of U.S. missile defense technology and architecture.

MDA will design and build antennas as part of space security program

BRAMPTON, ON (MDA Ltd. PR) – MDA Ltd. (TSX: MDA), a leading provider of advanced technology and services to the rapidly expanding global space industry, today announced it has been awarded a contract from York Space Systems. The contract will see MDA design and build Ka-Band steerable antennas for satellites to be produced by York Space Systems.

BRAMPTON, ON (MDA Ltd. PR) — MDA Ltd. (TSX: MDA), a leading provider of advanced technology and services to the rapidly expanding global space industry, today announced Holly Johnson has been appointed as the company’s Vice President of Robotics and Space Operations (RSO), reporting to MDA Chief Executive Officer, Mike Greenley. Ms. Johnson stepped into the role in an acting capacity earlier this year.

With 14 years of experience at MDA, including a decade in engineering and business development and four years in corporate operations, Ms. Johnson is ideally positioned to lead the RSO business area as it accelerates through a period of tremendous growth, maximizes new commercial market opportunities, and focuses on delivering Canadarm3.

Illegal fishing is the planet’s 6th largest crime and poses incredible risks to the preservation and health of ocean ecosystems

BRAMPTON, Ont. (MDA PR) — MDA Ltd. (TSX:MDA), a leading provider of advanced technology and services to the rapidly expanding global space industry, announced today at the 2022 UN Ocean Conference a major new contribution to international efforts to monitor, track and intercept illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities using satellite technology.

Owning the world’s largest SAR constellation, ICEYE is the only company in the world that can provide customers with complete SAR satellite missions delivered in months.

HELSINKI, Finland (ICEYE PR) — ICEYE, an Earth observation company operating the world’s largest synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) satellite constellation, today announced the establishment of a new line of business focused solely on delivering fully operational satellite missions to customers looking for their own orbital SAR capabilities.

Contract will see MDA design and build antennas and control electronics for 42 low Earth orbit satellites

BRAMPTON, ON (MDA PR) — MDA Ltd. (TSX: MDA), a leading provider of advanced technology and services to the rapidly expanding global space industry, today announced it has been awarded a contract from Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) as part of the Space Development Agency (SDA) Tranche 1 Transport Layer (T1TL) program. 

LONGUEIUL, Que. (CSA PR) — As humanity tackles the challenges of creating a permanent human presence on the Moon, multiple Canadian companies will undertake seven concept studies. These reports will help develop capabilities and define potential Canadian infrastructure contributions on the Moon’s surface.

• Strong business activity with backlog growing to $1.52 billion, up 122% YoY
• Steady revenue growth with revenues of $128.4 million, up 4% YoY
• Solid profitability with EBITDA of $35.6 million (27.7% margin) and adjusted EBITDA excluding non-recurring items of $27.7 million (21.6% margin)
• Key awards include Globalstar’s LEO constellation and Phase B of Canadarm3
• Subsequent to quarter-end, MDA announced the redemption of its $150 million second lien notes and refinancing of its revolving credit facility

BRAMPTON, ON (MDA PR) – MDA Ltd. (TSX: MDA), a leading provider of advanced technology and services to the rapidly expanding global space industry, today announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2022 demonstrating strong order bookings, growing backlog and solid profitability.  

by Douglas Messier
Managing Editor

Rocket Lab reported a $26.7 million first quarter loss on revenues of $40.7 million, with space systems such as satellites producing the majority of revenues rather than the launches for which the company is best known. Adjusted EBITDA loss for the quarter was $7.98 million.

Rocket Lab earned $34.1 million in revenues from space systems. That amount represented 84% of first quarter revenues, an increase of 1,873 percent from the first quarter of 2021.