In response to Canada's vibrant space sector's need for continued access to specialized space testing services in Canada, the Government of Canada is announcing that MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Corporation (MDA Space) will be taking over the operations of the David Florida Laboratory (DFL) in Ottawa.
The DFL is Canada's world-class spacecraft assembly, integration, and test centre, located on Shirleys Bay Campus in Ottawa. Testing activities performed at the DFL constitute one of the last steps that spacecraft and space hardware undergo prior to space deployment to demonstrate its ability to survive the stresses of a rocket launch and the space environment.
Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC), on behalf of the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), has issued a one-year renewable occupancy licence to MDA Space to operate the DFL's unique space testing facilities. MDA Space intends to start offering services to Canada's space sector as early as fall 2025.
This occupancy licence is an interim measure to offer options to meet the Canadian space sector's needs. In parallel, the Government of Canada is currently developing a longer-term real property strategy on the use and ownership of the building and the continued access to this highly specialized space testing centre in Canada.
