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MDA Space
Aerospace

MDA Space Company Overview

MDA Space logo

MDA Space

● Active
Aerospace · Brampton, Ontario, Canada · Est. 1969
AerospaceSpace TechnologyRoboticsDefenceSatellite↗ Website
$3.6B
Valuation
$1.1B
Revenue
4k+
Employees
1969
Founded

MDA Space Ltd. is a Canadian space technology company providing advanced robotics, geointelligence, and satellite systems for the global space industry. Known for building the iconic Canadarm, MDA delivers critical space infrastructure including the Canadarm3 for the Lunar Gateway and satellite constellation solutions.

Recent Press
5 items
Press Release·2026-03-04
MDA Space Projects 90% Revenue Visibility for 2026 Backed by CA$4 Billion Backlog
MDA Space ended 2025 with a CA$4 billion backlog providing 90% visibility into 2026 revenues, and identified a CA$40 billion pipeline of opportunities over the next five years across satellite, geointelligence, and robotics segments.
Press Release·2026-03-04
MDA Space Reports Record 2025 Revenue of CA$1.63 Billion, Up 51% Year-Over-Year
MDA Space posted record 2025 annual revenue of CA$1.63 billion (+51% YoY) with adjusted net income of CA$190 million (+71% YoY), driven by Satellite Systems revenue surging 85.5% to CA$1.1 billion.
Press Release·2026-02-15
MDA Space Opens 49 North Defense Subsidiary to Expand Government Contracting
MDA Space opened 49 North, a new subsidiary dedicated to defense contracting, strengthening the company's presence in government and national security space programs as it targets a CA$40 billion five-year opportunity pipeline.
Press Release·2025-11-10
MDA Space Secures CA$1.1 Billion Follow-On Contract from Globalstar for 50+ AURORA Satellites
MDA Space won a CAD 1.1 billion follow-on contract from Globalstar to manufacture more than 50 AURORA digital satellites, expanding one of the company's largest manufacturing programs and reinforcing its CA$4 billion backlog.
Acquisition·2025-09-20
MDA Space Acquires SatixFy for USD $269 Million to Integrate Advanced Satellite Chip Technology
MDA Space announced an all-cash deal to acquire SatixFy for USD $269 million, integrating SatixFy's advanced satellite chip technology into MDA's growing satellite manufacturing and digital payload capabilities.
Company History
10 milestones
MDA was founded in Vancouver, British Columbia by John MacDonald and Vern Dettwiler, initially focused on data systems for forestry and resource management before pivoting to space technology.

MDA Space Organization Structure & Team

Org Chart
3,800 employees · Click a leader to explore their team
3,945 across 12 departments
Chief Executive Officer
Mike Greenley
Vito Culmone — Departments
· 3945 people across 12 depts

MDA Space Financials, Revenue & Market Share

Annual Revenue
$1.1B
+23% vs prior year
YoY Growth
+23%
From $492M to $1.1B
Revenue / Employee
$293K
Annual revenue per full-time employee
Revenue Growth
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
$492M
$619M
$869M
$1.1B
$1.1B
Market Share
Space Robotics — Crewed Spacecraft
20%
share
MDA Space
20%
Maxar Technologies
25%
Thales Alenia Space
22%
Airbus Defence & Space
20%
Others
13%
$630B
TAM
$85B
SAM
$1.1B
SOM
Revenue Streams
Satellite Systems55%
Space Robotics & Automation30%
Geointelligence15%
Business Units
Satellite Systems55%
Designs and manufactures communication satellites, payload systems, and ground infrastructure for commercial LEO and GEO operators including Telesat, SES, and government agencies.
Space Robotics & Automation30%
Builds robotic arms and automation systems for human spaceflight and satellite servicing, including Canadarm2 (ISS), Canadarm3 (Lunar Gateway), and next-generation on-orbit servicing platforms.
Geointelligence15%
Operates RADARSAT-2 SAR satellite and the RADARSAT Constellation Mission (RCM), delivering high-resolution Earth observation data and analytics to government, defense, and commercial customers.

MDA Space Internal Tools & Processes

Internal Tools
12 departments
Finance80 people · 3 roles
Standards & Certifications
10 standards
Compliance frameworks, security audits, and quality certifications this company maintains.
Quality
ISO 9001
Certified
MDA Space maintains ISO 9001 certification across its satellite manufacturing and robotics engineering facilities, meeting the quality management standards required for government and commercial space contracts worldwide.
Quality
AS9100
Certified
MDA Space is AS9100 certified — the aerospace industry's quality management standard — covering design, development, and manufacturing of satellite systems and space robotic assemblies.
Regulatory
ITAR
Compliant
MDA Space maintains ITAR compliance programs for its U.S.-origin technology exports, enabling collaboration with NASA, the U.S. DoD, and American commercial satellite operators on programs like the Lunar Gateway and ISS robotic systems.
Security
Transport Canada Security Clearance
Certified
MDA Space holds Canadian government security clearances required to handle classified payload design data and support defense Earth observation programs including RADARSAT-2 intelligence applications.
Regulatory
NASA NPR 7120.5
Compliant
MDA Space's Canadarm2 and Canadarm3 programs comply with NASA NPR 7120.5 Program and Project Management requirements, ensuring crewed spaceflight hardware meets NASA's rigorous safety and verification standards.
Environmental
ISO 14001
Certified
MDA Space holds ISO 14001 environmental management certification at its Brampton and Richmond manufacturing sites, covering satellite assembly cleanrooms and the reduction of hazardous materials in space hardware production.
Safety
CSA B51
Compliant
MDA Space complies with Canadian Standards Association B51 pressure vessel and piping standards applicable to propulsion systems and pressure vessel testing in its satellite integration and test facilities.
Regulatory
EAR (Export Administration Regulations)
Compliant
MDA Space manages Export Administration Regulations (EAR) compliance for dual-use space technology, ensuring controlled satellite components and geospatial data products meet U.S. export licensing requirements for international customers.
Privacy
GDPR
Compliant
MDA Space's Geointelligence division processes Earth observation data for European government and commercial customers and maintains GDPR-compliant data handling policies for imagery derived from European territory.
Security
MIL-STD-461
Compliant
MDA Space designs satellite subsystems and robotic systems to MIL-STD-461 electromagnetic compatibility requirements, ensuring space hardware can operate without interference in the electromagnetic environments of crewed spacecraft and military satellites.

MDA Space Interview Preparation

Interview Prep
Role-specific interview questions and keywords. Select a department, then click any role to prepare.
Finance· 3 roles

MDA Space Products & Competitors

Product Suite
3 products · select one to explore
Aerospace
Space Robotics
Canadarm3
Next-generation robotic arm for the Lunar Gateway

Canadarm3 is MDA Space's AI-assisted robotic maintenance system being developed for the NASA-led Lunar Gateway space station. Building on the legacy of Canadarm and Canadarm2 aboard the ISS, Canadarm3 will operate autonomously to perform maintenance tasks, capture visiting vehicles, and support astronaut spacewalks in the lunar orbit environment. The system uses advanced AI and machine vision to function without real-time Earth-based operator input due to communication delays.

Use Cases
Autonomously inspecting and repairing Lunar Gateway external components during periods when no crew is aboard the stationCapturing and berthing visiting cargo vehicles at the Lunar Gateway using Canadarm3's AI-guided grappling without real-time Earth operator supportAssisting astronauts during lunar-orbit EVAs by repositioning payloads and providing stable anchor points on the Gateway exterior
No image
Key Customers
CSA
Canadian Space Agency
NASA
NASA
NOC
Northrop Grumman
Competitive Intelligence
VSNASA Robotic External Leak Locator
THEM

NASA's RELL system is a set of robotic tools deployed from the ISS robotic arm to detect ammonia coolant leaks on the station exterior, representing NASA's own in-house robotic inspection technology for space station maintenance.

EDGE

Canadarm3's AI-autonomous operation without real-time Earth control is a generational leap beyond current NASA robotic tools that require continuous ground operator input

VSJAXA JEM Remote Manipulator System
THEM

JAXA's JEM Remote Manipulator System (JRMS) is a robotic arm on the Japanese Experiment Module of the ISS used for experiments, cargo handling, and small satellite deployment in low Earth orbit.

EDGE

Canadarm3's multi-segment flexibility and autonomous AI guidance for deep space operations far exceed JRMS's fixed JEM-module scope in low Earth orbit

VSESA European Robotic Arm
THEM

The European Space Agency's European Robotic Arm (ERA) is a newly installed robotic arm on the Russian segment of the ISS, capable of walking along the station exterior and handling payloads up to 8,000 kg autonomously.

EDGE

Canadarm3's AI-driven autonomy for unmanned lunar orbit operations addresses a harder operational environment than ERA's ISS deployment with reliable Earth communication links

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