The Phoenix Program aims to develop and demonstrate technologies to cooperatively repurpose valuable space assets, such as retired, nonworking satellites, and demonstrate the ability to create new space systems at greatly reduced cost. The mission will use a robotic on-orbit servicer and components launched alongside commercial satellites. According to the latest statistics from several space analysis firms, there are 149 government-owned spacecraft and 275 commercial satellites currently in GEO orbit.

  MDA received multiple contracts from both DARPA and the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) that cover its operations in both Canada and the United States. The program also hopes to transition its developing technologies into sustainable commercial applications that support future military needs. MDA also is under contract from DARPA to assist with defining this commercialization plan and to design and prototype the delivery system in which the components are sent to orbit (called PODS).

“MDA’s heritage of robotics and on-orbit servicing successes are a good match for the DARPA Phoenix program,” MDA President and CEO Daniel Friedmann said in a statement. “We look forward to working with DARPA to demonstrate space infrastructure servicing. Assuming the program proceeds as planned, the overall multi-year program represents a significant opportunity for our company and a significant step forward for demonstrating certain aspects of on-orbit servicing.”

  MDA is specifically working with the NRL and DARPA to provide two primary robotic manipulator arms under a sole-source award and two separate contracts from DARPA that will develop key robotic servicing technologies, including advanced robotic tools, cameras, tool caddies, and advanced designs for a hyper-dexterous robot. DARPA confirmed that the total scope for that element of the program would not exceed $27.2 million, specifically if all phases of the program were funded. 

  Phase 1 of the program is under contract now and MDA’s contract is expected to grow when Phase 2 of the program begins in 2013.