Advocacy / Member News
March 4, 2013
COM DEV Optical Payload Launched on the Sapphire Satellite
COM DEV Optical Payload Launched on the Sapphire Satellite
CAMBRIDGE, ON – February 25, 2013 COM DEV International Ltd. (TSX: CDV), a leading manufacturer of space hardware subsystems, today announced that the Sapphire satellite developed by prime contractor MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (MDA) was successfully launched today with a COM DEV designed and built optical payload instrument on-board.
COM DEV provided the Sapphire optical payload which consists of the Optical Imaging Subsystem (OIS) and the Data Handling and Control Subsystem (DHCS). The OIS is a visible-band telescope housed with a low noise preamplifier and a focal plane that will acquire a series of images for each target object in space. The DCHS contains primary and redundant electronics which can correct the images that have been captured and compress the image data before it is transmitted to a ground station for additional processing.
Sapphire is the Canadian Department of National Defence’s first dedicated operational military satellite. This space-based electro-optical sensor will track man-made space objects in Earth orbit as part of Canada’s continued support of Space Situational Awareness. Data from the Sapphire satellite will contribute to the U.S. Space Surveillance Network, enhancing the ability of both countries to detect and avoid the collision of critical space platforms with other satellites or pieces of debris.
“We are pleased to have made a major contribution to a satellite that is a first for the Canadian Department of National Defence“, said Michael Pley, CEO of COM DEV International. “We are privileged to have had the opportunity to apply our world class optical systems expertise to this important operational mission.”
About COM DEV
COM DEV International Ltd. (www.comdevintl.com) is a leading global provider of space hardware and services. The company has a staff of 1,300, annual revenues of $208 million, and facilities in Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States. COM DEV designs manufactures, and integrates advanced products, subsystems and microsatellites that are sold to major satellite prime contractors, government agencies and satellite operators, for use in communications, space science, remote sensing and defense applications. The company has won contracts to supply its equipment on over 900 spacecraft. COM DEV’s majority-owned subsidiary, exactEarth Ltd., provides satellite data services for global maritime surveillance.
Contact information:
Gary Calhoun
Chief Financial Officer
Tel: (519) 622-2300 ext. 2826
Fax: (519) 622-2158
[email protected]
Craig MacPhail
TMX Equicom
Tel: (416) 815-0700 ext. 290
[email protected]
CAMBRIDGE, ON – February 25, 2013 COM DEV International Ltd. (TSX: CDV), a leading manufacturer of space hardware subsystems, today announced that the Sapphire satellite developed by prime contractor MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (MDA) was successfully launched today with a COM DEV designed and built optical payload instrument on-board.
COM DEV provided the Sapphire optical payload which consists of the Optical Imaging Subsystem (OIS) and the Data Handling and Control Subsystem (DHCS). The OIS is a visible-band telescope housed with a low noise preamplifier and a focal plane that will acquire a series of images for each target object in space. The DCHS contains primary and redundant electronics which can correct the images that have been captured and compress the image data before it is transmitted to a ground station for additional processing.
Sapphire is the Canadian Department of National Defence’s first dedicated operational military satellite. This space-based electro-optical sensor will track man-made space objects in Earth orbit as part of Canada’s continued support of Space Situational Awareness. Data from the Sapphire satellite will contribute to the U.S. Space Surveillance Network, enhancing the ability of both countries to detect and avoid the collision of critical space platforms with other satellites or pieces of debris.
“We are pleased to have made a major contribution to a satellite that is a first for the Canadian Department of National Defence“, said Michael Pley, CEO of COM DEV International. “We are privileged to have had the opportunity to apply our world class optical systems expertise to this important operational mission.”
About COM DEV
COM DEV International Ltd. (www.comdevintl.com) is a leading global provider of space hardware and services. The company has a staff of 1,300, annual revenues of $208 million, and facilities in Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States. COM DEV designs manufactures, and integrates advanced products, subsystems and microsatellites that are sold to major satellite prime contractors, government agencies and satellite operators, for use in communications, space science, remote sensing and defense applications. The company has won contracts to supply its equipment on over 900 spacecraft. COM DEV’s majority-owned subsidiary, exactEarth Ltd., provides satellite data services for global maritime surveillance.
Contact information:
Gary Calhoun
Chief Financial Officer
Tel: (519) 622-2300 ext. 2826
Fax: (519) 622-2158
[email protected]
Craig MacPhail
TMX Equicom
Tel: (416) 815-0700 ext. 290
[email protected]
About CADSI
The Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries (CADSI) is the national industry voice of more than 650 Canadian defence, security and cybersecurity companies that produce world-class goods, services and technologies made across Canada and sought the world over. The industries contribute to the employment of more than 78,000 Canadians and generate $12.6 billion in annual revenues, roughly half of which come from exports. To learn more, visit defenceandsecurity.ca and follow us on Twitter at @CadsiCanada .
Media Inquiries
Please direct all media inquiries to:
Tel: +1 613-235-5337 x43
The Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries
251 Laurier Ave. West, Suite 300 Ottawa, ON, K1P 5J6
