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Canada Cancels Com Dev’s M3M Satellite Launch Over Ukraine-Crisis

By Rachel Scharmann | April 30, 2014
      Canadian Space Agency

      An overhead view of the Canadian Space Agency, located in Saint-Hubert. Photo: Canadian Space Agency

      [Via Satellite 04-30-2014] Due to rising tensions with Russia after the events in Ukraine, the Canadian government has decided not to continue with the Russian Soyuz launch of Com Dev’s M3M satellite, which was scheduled for June 2014. Com Dev built the satellite under a contract from the Canadian Space Agency/Public Works Government Services Canada for the Canadian Department of National Defense. The satellite is also under a commercial data-sharing license with exactEarth, the maritime subsidiary of Com Dev.

      The Canadian Space Agency has given assurance to Com Dev that it will support the company’s search to secure a new launch.

      “Recognizing the current events in the Ukraine, we had been engaged in discussions with the Government of Canada with respect to a potential delay of the launch of M3M, and plans to mitigate the impact of any delay,” said Mike Pley, CEO of Com Dev International. “We are confident that the mitigations will be in place prior to the originally planned M3M in-service date of September 2014.”