The Canadian Space Agency has awarded MDA Space a contract worth $1 billion for the next phases of the Canadarm3 program, which is an integral part of NASA's Gateway, a space station that will orbit the Moon to support the Artemis program. According to the Canadian Space Agency, the contract covers Phase C (final design) and Phase D (system construction, assembly, integration, and testing) for the complete robotic system, which includes a large arm and a smaller dexterous arm, specialized tools, and a ground segment for operation and control, according to the website spaceexplored.

The lunar Gateway is a key component of NASA's Artemis program and the U.S. space agency's efforts to return humans to the Moon and lay the groundwork for future missions to Mars. The first units from this site are expected to be launched into deep space later this decade, and it will be placed in a gravitationally balanced orbit between the Earth and the Moon called a halo orbit.
MDA Space will oversee the operation of the robotic system in orbit from the new mission control center in Brampton, Ontario, which provides the necessary infrastructure to manage and control the complex operations of Canadarm3. The contract also stipulates extensive planning and training for personnel for orbit mission operations, aimed at ensuring the team is well-prepared to face the challenges of remote operations in space.

Mike Greenley, the CEO of MDA Space, stated in a press release: "We are entering an exciting period where Canadarm3 will take shape and come to life on our production floor. This significant investment in Canadarm3 enhances and expands our national and industrial leadership as we embark on a new era of space, and this major achievement also reflects our strategy in operating while we build our substantial backlog and launch a new generation of commercial space products and services into the market."

More than 200 Canadian companies are expected to participate in Phases C and D, fostering job creation, skill development, and economic growth within the Canadian space industry, according to the Canadian Space Agency. The collaborative nature of the project will highlight the significant contributions of Canada's industrial base to the global space sector, and this contract underscores Canada's commitment to the next chapter of lunar exploration.