Telesat Canada has reached an agreement with MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (MDA) to operate MDA’s Radarsat-2 for the lifetime of the satellite, Telesat announced May 17.

Telesat operates the eight satellites in its own fleet and seven spacecraft for other customers, including XM Satellite Radio and Mobile Satellite Ventures. The radar imaging satellite will be the first non-communications satellite placed under Telesat’s control.