[Satellite Today 07-29-08] Com Dev International Ltd. has been awarded a contract by MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates, Ltd. to deliver a payload for Project Sapphire, the first dedicated space mission for Canada’s Department of National Defence, Com Dev announced.
    Under the contract, valued at 12.3 million Canadian dollar ($12.1 million) contract, Com Dev will develop the satellite’s optical payload, comprised of a telescope for the imaging of distant objects and a radiation-resistant electronics subsystem that digitizes the images, performs computations and transmits the compressed data to a DND ground station.
    Sapphire will provide surveillance of man-made and natural objects in medium to high Earth orbit. The data collected will be used to update the U.S. Satellite Catalogue, used by North American Aerospace Defense Command and Canada to provide space situational awareness.
    Separately, Com Dev has established an engineering and production facility in El Segundo, Calif., to serve as the headquarters of Com Dev USA, which was established to support U.S. satellite manufacturers.