Rendering of Telesat’s Lightspeed LEO constellation. Photo: Telesat

Telesat and MDA Space have completed the preliminary design review (PDR) for the Lightspeed Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) constellation, the companies announced Wednesday. 

Completing the PDR shows that the constellation design meets the program’s function and performance requirements. This also included PDRs for multiple key subsystems on the satellites. The companies now move into the program’s detailed engineering and manufacturing phase, including the critical design review.

Telesat confirmed in the Dec. 4 announcement that it expects to begin launching satellites in 2026. MDA Space is building 198 satellites for Telesat under the constellation deal awarded in mid-2023. Telesat first selected Thales Alenia Space to build the constellation, but changed manufacturers to go with MDA Space. 

The Lightspeed Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) constellation is the flagship customer for MDA Space’s Aurora software-defined satellite. The supply chain includes optical communication terminals from Tesat, subsystems from Aerospacelab, and on-board computers from Beyond Gravity. 

MDA Space is building a new facility in Quebec that will double its satellite manufacturing capability. The production line is expected to be operational in the second half of 2025.

“The Telesat and MDA Space program teams have been working closely together to advance the Telesat Lightspeed vision and to reach this important program milestone,” said MDA Space CEO Mike Greenley. “With construction of our new high-volume satellite manufacturing facility in Montreal underway, we are focused on continuing to advance the next phase of the program.”

Telesat CEO Dan Goldberg recently told investors that customer discussions for Lightspeed ramped up after the Canadian operator finalized funding for the LEO constellation in the third quarter. Telesat is in discussions with Viasat for capacity on Telesat. 

 “The user community sees huge benefits from moving to LEO,” Goldberg said last month. “I think that most communication service providers across all different verticals are looking for a way to leverage LEO to remain competitive. Certainly the conversations we are having with Viasat are a reflection of that.”