COM DEV International Ltd. (TSX: CDV), a manufacturer of space hardware subsystems, announced that the Sapphire satellite developed by prime contractor MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (MDA) was successfully launched with a COM DEV designed and built optical payload instrument on-board.

Image Courtesy of MDA Corp.

COM DEV provided the Sapphire optical payload which consists of the Optical Imaging Subsystem (OIS) and the Data Handling and Control Subsystem (DHCS). The OIS is a visible-band telescope housed with a low noise preamplifier and a focal plane that will acquire a series of images for each target object in space.

The DCHS contains primary and redundant electronics which can correct the images that have been captured and compress the image data before it is transmitted to a ground station for additional processing.

Sapphire is the Canadian Department of National Defence's first dedicated operational military satellite. This space-based electro-optical sensor will track man-made space objects in Earth orbit as part of Canada's continued support of Space Situational Awareness. Data from the Sapphire satellite will contribute to the U.S. Space Surveillance Network, enhancing the ability of both countries to detect and avoid the collision of critical space platforms with other satellites or pieces of debris.

"We are pleased to have made a major contribution to a satellite that is a first for the Canadian Department of National Defence", said Michael Pley, CEO of COM DEV International. "We are privileged to have had the opportunity to apply our world class optical systems expertise to this important operational mission."