NASA Awards MDA $21 Million Service Contract for International Space Station

BRAMPTON, Ont.---- MacDonald Dettwiler subsidiary, MD Robotics has received a $21M contract from NASA Johnson Space Center to supply sustaining engineering services on the Robotic Work Station (RWS) for the International Space Station through to the end of 2002.

Under the terms of the contract, MD Robotics will provide management and engineering resources and services to ensure the integrity of RWS hardware, software and ground support equipment. The contract provides for product improvements and enhancements, flight spares, and integration and test activities in preparation for launch of the first RWS unit early in 2001.

The RWS provides vital display, control and command links to the space station's robotics, cameras, and video equipment, allowing astronauts to perform difficult assembly and maintenance tasks from within the safe confines of the space station. The RWS incorporates the most stringent safety, operational and technological requirements and features. Astronauts will use the Robotic Work Station to operate the Mobile Servicing System, Canada?s contribution to the International Space Station.

In 1996, NASA contracted with MD Robotics to design and build two flight Robotic Work Stations. The award of this contract follows successful formal customer acceptance and delivery of those units earlier this year.

"This is a significant step forward for MD Robotics in establishing a leading sustaining engineering role on the space station program," said Mag Iskander, vice president and general manager of MD Robotics. "For nearly 30 years we have supported NASA on the Canadarm program and look forward to continuing this relationship on the RWS and expanding this core business."

About MacDonald Dettwiler

MacDonald Dettwiler is an information company that provides essential information from anywhere in the world for decision making in the workplace. The Company operates its business through two principal groups: the Information Products Group and the Information Systems Group. The Information Products Group delivers essential land information products and services in three categories including: legal information, asset information, and geographical information.

The Information Systems Group provides mission critical information systems to three major applications: monitoring activities on the planet, managing mobile assets, and enabling the mobile workforce. MacDonald Dettwiler employs 1700 people around the world through a network of offices, subsidiaries, and distributors.

About The International Space Station (ISS)

The International Space Station (ISS) is the largest and most ambitious space program since the Apollo moon landings and the largest scientific joint effort among nations in history. The International Space Station partners a global team led by NASA. Countries participating in the program include the United States, Canada, Japan, Russia, Brazil and a consortium of European communities under the flag of the European Space Agency. Each of the international partners is providing key elements to the program. The first components of the station were placed in orbit in late 1998.

The space station will provide unique laboratories to conduct research in fields such as astronomy, life sciences and materials, as well as locations to assemble satellites and space platforms too large and fragile to launch directly from Earth. The advanced technologies being used to construct the station will find applications in many industries on earth.

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