- MDA Space (TSX:MDA) opened the MDA Chorus Control Centre in St-Bruno-de-Montarville, Québec, as the operational hub for its next-generation Earth observation constellation
- The MDA Chorus system will combine C-band and X-band radar satellites to deliver wide-area monitoring and high-resolution imagery in a single pass
- The company remains on track for a late 2026 launch, with commercial operations expected to begin in early 2027
- MDA Space stock (TSX:MDA) last traded at C$47.79
Canadian space technology firm MDA Space (TSX:MDA) has officially opened its new MDA Chorus control centre in St-Bruno-de-Montarville, Québec, marking a major milestone in the company’s efforts to bring its next-generation Earth observation constellation into service.
The facility, located on Montréal’s South Shore, will serve as the operational hub for the MDA Chorus satellite constellation and is expected to play a key role as the company moves toward operational readiness ahead of a planned launch in late 2026.
“Backed by decades of on-orbit operations experience across a team that has supported one of the world’s most important Earth observation space assets and missions, this facility brings together the people, systems and infrastructure required to deliver the extraordinary insights and intelligence that global customers depend on,” MDA’s CEO, Mike Greenley, said in a news release.
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MDA Chorus is a dual-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR) constellation designed and built by MDA Space to provide advanced Earth observation capabilities for both commercial and government customers around the world. Once commissioned, the company says the system will offer one of the most extensive dual-band SAR imaging capacities available on the market.
The constellation is designed to deliver a 700-kilometre-wide imaging swath while also capturing sub-metre high-resolution spotlight imagery. The technology will enable users to collect detailed images day or night and in all weather conditions, providing critical data for applications ranging from environmental monitoring and disaster response to security and infrastructure management.
A key feature of MDA Chorus is its innovative dual-band architecture. The system combines a wide-area C-band satellite with a high-resolution X-band satellite operating in tandem. Through a process known as “tipping and cueing,” the leading C-band satellite can identify broad areas of interest, while the trailing X-band satellite focuses on specific targets to provide greater detail.
The approach is intended to deliver both large-scale situational awareness and precise imagery in a single satellite pass, improving efficiency and enhancing the value of the data collected.
The newly opened MDA Chorus Control Centre brings together the expertise, personnel and technology required to operate the constellation. Designed specifically for satellite mission management, the facility will support the full range of operational activities, including command and control, mission assurance and Earth observation data delivery.
By centralizing satellite operations in a dedicated control environment, MDA Space aims to ensure the reliability and performance of the constellation once it enters service.
The opening of the control centre represents one of the final major infrastructure milestones ahead of launch. According to MDA Space, development of the constellation remains on schedule, with the satellites expected to launch in late 2026 and commercial operations slated to begin in early 2027.
As demand for timely, high-resolution Earth observation data continues to grow across government, defence and commercial sectors, MDA Space is working to position MDA Chorus as a next-generation solution capable of delivering comprehensive global monitoring capabilities from orbit.
With the control centre now fully operational, the company has taken another significant step toward bringing its advanced radar imaging constellation online and expanding Canada’s presence in the rapidly evolving Earth observation market.
MDA Space Ltd. is one of Canada’s largest and most established space technology companies, best known for robotics systems such as Canadarm and its involvement in government and commercial satellite missions. The company has been expanding rapidly into next‑generation satellite manufacturing, Earth observation systems, and deep-space robotics.
MDA Space stock (TSX:MDA) last traded at C$47.79 and has risen around 80 per cent since the year began.
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