MDA Space
Canadian aerospace company building Canadarm3 under a $1 billion Gateway contract.
Last refreshed: 2 April 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
How does Lunar Gateway cancellation affect MDA Space's future?
Latest on MDA Space
- What does MDA Space do?
- MDA Space builds robotic arms for space stations, including Canadarm3 for the now-cancelled Lunar Gateway.Source: Lowdown briefing analysis
- Is MDA Space affected by Gateway cancellation?
- Yes. MDA holds a $1 billion Gateway contract for Canadarm3; cancellation puts that revenue at risk.Source: Lowdown briefing analysis
- Who built the ISS robotic arm?
- MDA Space (then MacDonald Dettwiler) built Canadarm2, which has operated on the ISS since 2001.Source: Lowdown briefing analysis
Background
MDA Space (formerly MacDonald Dettwiler) is Canada's leading space robotics company, holding a $1 billion contract from the Canadian Space Agency to build Canadarm3 for the Lunar Gateway. The Gateway cancellation in 2026 has put that contract and MDA's medium-term revenue pipeline in doubt.
MDA built both the original Canadarm (flown on 90 shuttle missions) and Canadarm2 (operational on the ISS since 2001). That heritage won the company its Gateway role but also means its fortunes are closely tied to government-led exploration priorities.
In response to Gateway's cancellation, MDA has cited "flexibility" and the potential Lunar Utility Vehicle as a pivot path, but the company faces a significant gap in contracted work if no equivalent mission materialises. Its share price and workforce planning are directly exposed to the policy outcome.
