Rendering of Aurora Satellite Photo: MDA SPACE

MDA Space unveiled Aurora as the name of its new software-defined satellite product line on March 18. The Aurora product line will adopt several new features designed to improve flexibility and functionality for constellation performance. 

Key features of the Aurora product line will include a modular of software-defined satellites with digital payload technologies tailored for multiple orbits and frequencies. Aurora will include onboard processors and packet routers to create communication pathways within a constellation between user links, gateway links, and optical inter-satellite links.

New features come as a product of MDA’s acquisition of the digital payload division of SatixFy Communications, which closed in October 2023.

Aurora will adopt beamforming technology and electronically-steered direct radiating arrays with radio frequency (RF) conversion capabilities. Constellations will be equipped with onboard flight telecom software, a digital payload simulator, and a constellation network manager.

MDA is also utilizing a modular digital payload solution designed for manufacturing automated production lines and AI-enabled robots, cobots, and high-skilled assemblers for mass production. Aurora is the same satellite model that MDA Space is building for Telesat’s Lightspeed constellation. 

The introduction of Aurora also follows MDA Space’s recent rebranding from MDA on March 7.

“We are proud to introduce Aurora, our transformational software-defined satellite product line,” said Mike Greenley, CEO of MDA Space. “Delivering best-in-class satellite performance, attractive economics and more cost-effective constellation solutions, we are honored to have already secured two customers for Aurora, including Telesat as the anchor customer.”

Last week, Greenley won the Via Satellite Satellite Executive of the Year award at SATELLITE 2024.