Canada going to the moon. DM involvement?Since MDA has built the lat two Canadarm generations and is now ready to build Canadarm3 for the Gateway Space Station - a planned small space station in lunar orbit intended to serve as a solar-powered communication hub, science laboratory, short-term habitation module, and holding area for rovers and other robots - I'm wondering if the MDA-DM JV couldn't lead to interesting prospects down the road. Granted, an important first step would see them win the ongoing bid but, if so, it certainly would open up great opportunities.
Relevant news from the past year:
1. News 26 May 2021. Canada moves forward with plans to explore the Moon (https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/canada-moves-forward-with-plans-to-explore-the-moon-817302255.html). $3 million in technology initiatives for lunar exploration through the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), Support and opportunities provided under the CSA's Lunar Exploration Accelerator Program, to expand and prepare Canadian entrepreneurs and scientists to take part in lunar exploration, including:
- Mission Control Space Services is receiving $3-million to test cutting-edge technology in lunar orbit and on the Moon's surface, with a mission currently planned for 2022.
- Two other Canadian companies, Canadensys Aerospace Corporation and NGC Aerospace Ltd. will also demonstrate advanced technologies during a lunar mission.
- CSA will be supporting scientists in Canadian universities to advance their understanding of the lunar surface.
- In partnership with NASA, a Canadian rover will land on the Moon within the next five years. As a first step, the CSA will select two Canadian companies to develop concepts for the rover and science instrument(s) for this mission.
Since early 2020, the government has invested $36.5 million to prepare for future mission opportunities, including
- $4.4 million to advance technology for nano- and micro-rovers, as well as autonomous science instruments.
- $2.9 million to develop Canadian lunar science instruments.
- $3.3 million to test technology in lunar orbit and on the Moon's surface.
- 8 December 2020. $22.8 million to MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (MDA) to establish the technical requirements to build Canadarm3. (https://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/astronomy/moon-exploration/news.asp). Canadarm3 will be composed of a next-generation smart robotic arm, a small dexterous arm and a set of specialized tools. Using advanced machine vision, cutting-edge software and advances in artificial intelligence, this highly autonomous system will be able to perform tasks without human intervention.
- 3.1 million to support the development of technologies targeting the lunar economy and looking to be included into lunar mission supply chains, by April 2024.
Of course, although this won't happen overnight, over the long long term, this opens up a breadth of opportunities for DM and its AI.
My two cents for the day.