The International Space Station (ISS). Photo: NASA

[Via Satellite 09-19-2014] The European Space Agency (ESA) as awarded MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates’ (MDA’s) Harwell U.K.-based subsidiary a contract to build a Ka-band data relay terminal flight model for the agency’s Columbus module on the International Space Station (ISS). MDA anticipates contract finalization by the end of 2014, which has an expected value of approximately $18 million.

The new terminal will supplement existing communications systems on the ISS, providing additional bandwidth for scientific data delivery as well as High Definition video between ground stations and the ISS.

Measuring 4.5-meters in diameter, the Columbus module is ESA’s largest single contribution to the ISS. Scientists on Earth and the ISS use he lab to collaborate on experiments for life science, fluid physics and other fields.