Grants and Contributions:

Lightweight mechanisms for large deployable structures | Solar Arrays

25STDPX25

$1,000,000.00

Aug 12, 2025 - Feb 28, 2027

With the advancement of Low-Earth Orbit Constellation missions and a higher focus towards more New Space/demonstration type missions, we believe at MDA Space that there is a real need and advantage to decrease the costs and mass of traditional solar array assemblies. To develop this technology in Canada reduces the reliance of the Canadian space sector towards American and European solar array providers. Furthermore, it would create more work on this side of the border, it would increase MDA Space’s competitiveness on the global space industry market, and it has the potential to help enable missions that weren’t closing within certain budget constraints by improving by a significant margin one of the biggest cost centers on a numerical satellite such as MDA AURORA™. More specifically, the proposed research and development work would increase the technology readiness level of a lightweight solar array comprised of a flexible substrate onto which the solar cells/modules are bonded or encapsulated, and a deployment mechanism of the type of pantograph with simple pivots and a simple cost actuator, which get validated through various breadboards and a representative prototype that undergoes environmental testing.

Canadian Space Agency

The Research component of the program provides financial support to organizations to conduct space related research and development in priority areas. It will support targeted knowledge development and innovation to sustain and enhance the Canadian capacity to use space to address national needs and priorities in the future.

Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, CA H9X 3R2

003-2025-2026-Q2-00011

Contribution

Grants and Contributions

For-profit organization

MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Corporation

STDP AO 9.1 Space R&D - Advanced Technologies

Canada's Innovation and Skills Plan is focused on three priority areas to spur innovation: People, Technologies, and Companies. Working with industry, the Government of Canada will encourage innovation by increasing its support for basic research and development (R&D) in space technology development. The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) is issuing this Announcement of Opportunity (AO) to support the development of Canadian industrial capabilities in the area of space technologies with the aim of increasing the commercial potential of Canadian space companies to capture global opportunities.

It is paramount that the Canadian space industry remains strong, healthy and relevant, and that it has the required readiness to respond to national demand and the necessary competitiveness to secure an increased share of commercial and institutional markets worldwide. Only through innovation and continued investments in R&D can Canada ensure that it has the industrial depth and breadth to remain a valued player in the international arena.

In light of the above, this AO concerning Space R&D – Advanced Technologies will award non-repayable contributions up to $1M per advanced space technology project that expect commercial potential in the short to medium term (i.e., two to five years).