TMCnet News
Group President of Maxar's MDA outlines opportunities, challenges for Canada's next role in spaceSpeech to the Aerospace, Defence and Security Expo continues discussions around Canada's innovation potential in space exploration BRAMPTON, ON, Aug. 14, 2018 /CNW/ - Canada's role and potential involvement in the growing new space economy requires a commitment from the Government of Canada for a new space strategy, the Group President of MDA, a Maxar company, said in a speech to the Aerospace, Defence and Security Expo. "The most pressing question is whether Canada will participate, or not, in the international space community's next big exploration project," said Mike Greenley, Group President of MDA. "The United States, Europe, Japan and Russia are currently planning a return to the Moon in the 2020s. NASA will build a small space station that orbits the Moon, as a base for lunar exploration and as a Gateway to explore deeper space. The international community expects Canada to participate in this mission and to provide advanced AI and robotics – our traditional and strategic role." Greenley said the international community expects and wants Canada to participate. "Making a commitment to participate in the Lunar Gateway as part of the upcoming space strategy would signal to the world that Canada plans to claim its place in the new space economy," Greenley said. "The current space-related global market opportunity is commonly estimated to be US$380 billion, which analysts forecast will grow to be a multi-trillion-dollar market in coming decades." Greenley said the needed commitment is not enormous. Part of Canada's commitment would help fund Canadarm 3, the next generation of the iconic Canadian technology featured prominently on the Canadian 5 dollar bill. "The next generation of Canadarm would provide highly visible, innovative and critical Lunar Gateway operations, including the assembly of the Gateway itself (and its ongoing maintenance), the capture of visiting spacecraft; and would enable science to be conducted in the lunar vicinity," Greenley said. Greenley said MDA and other partners in the Canadian space industry ill spend the summer and fall of 2018 talking to Canadians and elected officials about the possibilities of space. About MDA About Maxar Technologies As a global leader of advanced space technology solutions, Maxar Technologies (formerly MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates) is at the nexus of the new space economy, developing and sustaining the infrastructure and delivering the information, services, systems that unlock the promise of space for commercial and government markets. As a trusted partner, Maxar Technologies provides vertically-integrated capabilities and expertise including satellites, Earth imagery, robotics, geospatial data and analytics to help customers anticipate and address their most complex mission-critical challenges with confidence. With more than 6,500 employees in over 30 global locations, the Maxar Technologies portfolio of commercial space brands includes MDA, SSL, DigitalGlobe and Radiant Solutions. Every day, billions of people rely on Maxar to communicate, share information and data, and deliver insights that Build a Better World. Maxar trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange and New York Stock Exchange as MAXR. For more information, visit www.maxar.com. Forward-Looking Statements This release contains forward-looking statements and information, which reflect the current view of Maxar Technologies Ltd. (the "Company") with respect to future events, performance and operational capabilities. The forward-looking statements in this regard include statements as to management's expectations with respect to future growth and operational capabilities of the Company and other statements that are not historical facts. Although management of the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Any such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results and experience to differ materially from the anticipated results or expectations expressed in this release. For additional information with respect to certain of these risks or factors, plus additional risks or factors, reference should be made to the Company's continuous disclosure materials filed from time to time with Canadian and U.S. securities regulatory authorities, which are available online under the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com, under the Company's EDGAR profile at www.sec.gov or on the Company's website at www.mdacorporation.com. Contact Wendy Keyzer | MDA Media Contact | 1-604-231-2743 | [email protected] SOURCE Maxar Technologies Ltd. 
|