Redwing Microsatellite Contract Awarded to Magellan
The government of Canada has awarded a contract to Magellan Aerospace Corporation to design, build, launch, and operate the Redwing microsatellite.
“The Redwing mission will leverage Magellan’s solid heritage in building high-quality space systems, while establishing new spacecraft technologies and mission capabilities."
Magellan VP Haydn Martin.
Directed by the Department of National Defence’s science and technology organization, Defence Research and Development Canada (“DRDC”), the $15.8 million Redwing contract represents the next generation of spacecraft for a demonstration of space domain awareness technology. When launched in 2026, the Redwing microsatellite will track space objects to analyze an increasingly congested orbital environment, observe higher detail on space objects, and provide near real-time tasking to respond to evolving space events.
Redwing Microsatellite will Play a Risk Reduction Role
Redwing will provide immense value to Canada and its allied partners in a risk reduction role, by helping to ensure continued Canadian access to critical space capabilities such as communications, remote sensing, and weather services. It will also provide the Canadian Armed Forces with a platform for experimental characterization of space objects, supporting a critical role within Canada’s space operations community. Redwing also supports the defense of North America by increasing understanding of what is in orbit above North America and other continental regions.
“The Redwing mission will leverage Magellan’s solid heritage in building high-quality space systems, while establishing new spacecraft technologies and mission capabilities," said Magellan VP Haydn Martin. "We are very proud to be supporting DRDC and the Government of Canada in this exciting endeavor.”
For more than 60 years, Magellan has been a reliable supplier of space systems to the Canadian and global markets. The Redwing microsatellite will be designed and built by the Magellan’s Winnipeg facility, which produced the platforms, or buses, for the highly successful SCISAT-1, CASSIOPE, and RADARSAT Constellation Mission satellites. Magellan will also oversee the development and operations of the overall Redwing mission, including contributions from both industrial and academic partners.
(Source: Magellan Aerospace news release Image provided)