NASA Awards $2.6M to MDA

MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (MDA) has been awarded a $2.6 million contract from the NASA for future robotics support on the International Space Station. The contract will extend MDA’s support of the Robotic Work Station on the International Space Station. The contract runs through September 2013 and includes two one-year options. The Robotic Work Station is the control station used to operate Canadarm2 and plays an essential role in the capture and berthing of re-supply vehicles visiting the space station. The contract runs through September 2013 and includes two one-year options. This announcement comes during a period where the Canadarm2 and Dextre are being used to perform the first refuelling demonstrations on the ISS. The Robotic Refueling Mission (RRM) is a sequence of events started on January 14. After a short delay on January 15 due to a software concern, the NASA/CSA team has performed four days of activities leading to day 5 where the transfer of liquid ethanol through a nozzle tool put into place by the Dextre robot will take place. A successful demonstration could pave the way to future robotic missions to repair or refuel satellites in orbit.