Today, the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, announced the Government of Canada's intent to contract MDA Space to build, test, and launch an additional satellite for the RADARSAT Constellation Mission (RCM).
The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) explored agile procurement options to maintain uninterrupted access to critical satellite data supporting our country's growing needs. In order to accelerate the delivery of this satellite, MDA Space has been awarded $44.7 million to purchase specialized parts.
To ensure Canada continues to innovate and remain at the forefront of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) capabilities, we are also advancing the development of the next-generation satellite system. Building on the legacy of the RCM, three Canadian companies, C-CORE, Kepler and MDA Space, are receiving up to $747 000 each. They will have seven months to deliver concept studies for the new generation of Earth observation satellites.
Space serves as a strategic industry to help us tackle some of the most pressing issues of our time. Satellites like the RCM deliver daily observations of Canada's lands, waters, and northern regions. This data supports essential services Canadians rely on, from responding to natural disasters to tracking sea ice and ensuring the safe delivery of supplies to northern communities.
These important investments ensure Canada will continue to have the sovereign satellite data needed to keep the Arctic secure, respond quickly to hurricanes and floods, and monitor environmental impacts.
