Home > Media Releases > MDA SELECTS SPACEX TO LAUNCH CHORUS CONSTELLATION
MDA SELECTS SPACEX TO LAUNCH CHORUS CONSTELLATION
Media Release: October 25, 2023
Launch window targeted for Q4 2025
Oct 25, 2023 (Brampton, Ontario) - 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.
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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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