RADARSAT Constellation Mission Magellan announced today the completion of all hardware deliveries to MDA, a Maxar Technologies company, for the RADARSAT Constellation Mission (RCM) being built for the Canadian Space Agency. In late September, the Multi-Layered Insulation (MLI) blankets were installed on the final satellite bus, marking the completion of this major contractual milestone. These thermal blankets for the spacecraft prevent it from freezing while in space.
Over the course of the RCM program Magellan has delivered three satellite buses, three payload module structures, as well as associated software, ground support equipment, and launch vehicle adaptors to MDA. Magellan is under contract by MDA to manufacture these assemblies for the Canadian Space Agency's RCM program, a three-satellite constellation that will provide around-the-clock Cband synthetic aperture radar data to support maritime surveillance, disaster management, and ecosystem monitoring for Canada and its surrounding Arctic, Pacific, and Atlantic maritime areas.
Magellan's continuing participation in the RADARSAT Constellation Mission contract with MDA includes the support and review of the results of the spacecraft environmental tests, support for mission operations, and support during the launch and on-orbit commissioning of the spacecraft.
The three RCM buses manufactured by Magellan are the largest and most complex satellite buses that the company has designed and manufactured to date. As an additional advancement, Magellan developed a new power control unit for use on the RADARSAT Constellation Mission that has already been commercialized and sold for another mission for an undisclosed customer.
The three satellites will be deployed on a single launch that is scheduled for the week of February 18 2019.