KORTHOS / ECOSYSTEM / PRODUCT

Canadarm3

About

About Canadarm3

Canadarm3 is MDA Space's autonomous robotic system for NASA's lunar-orbiting Gateway station. It combines a large arm, a smaller dexterous arm, specialised tools, external attachment interfaces and ground-control software for assembly, maintenance, science operations and astronaut support.

Machine vision, artificial intelligence and mission-planning software are being designed to let the system inspect and repair Gateway with minimal intervention from Earth, roughly 400,000 kilometres away. The arms can reposition around standard interfaces, handle replacement units and payloads, capture visiting spacecraft and assist spacewalks. A Canadian Space Agency contract is funding final design, construction, integration and testing of the flight system.

Research

  • Moon to Mars Architecture Definition Document: Gateway Components and Partnerships

    Research Publication - NASA architecture documentation identifies Canadarm3 as the Gateway External Robotic System used for maintenance, repair, inspection, visiting-vehicle capture and external utilization.

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Timeline

  • MDA Space reports C$99.5 million in Q2 robotics revenue

    2026-08-07 - Market Signal - First-half Robotics & Space Operations revenue reached C$191.1 million, up 15.6% from C$165.3 million a year earlier. Quarterly segment revenue increased by C$11.5 million, while first-half segment revenue increased by C$25.8 million. MDA Space attributed both increases to a higher volume of work on the Canadarm3 programme.

    Source
  • MDA Space wins C$1 billion Canadarm3 flight-system contract

    2024-06-27 - Contract Award - The system comprises a large robotic arm, a smaller dexterous arm, specialized maintenance and science tools, and a ground command-and-control segment. MDA Space will support commissioning from its Space Robotics Centre of Excellence and mission-control facility in Brampton. The Phase C and D programme is expected to involve more than 200 Canadian companies in MDA Space's supply chain.

    Source
  • MDA Space completes first commercial sale of Canadarm3 technology

    2022-05-03 - Commercial Order - The interfaces provide permanent fixture points for future robotic-arm integration after Axiom Station separates from the International Space Station. Canadarm2 will use the interfaces while helping assemble the initial station modules attached to the ISS. The order marked MDA Space's first commercial sale of technology derived from the Canadarm3 programme.

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Context

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