COM DEV wins $39-million telescope camera contract

COM DEV International Ltd has been awarded a $39-million contract from the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) to build a specialized camera for the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) — a follow-on to the Hubble telescope slated for a 2013 launch. The fine guidance sensor and tunable filter camera is the first production mandate for COM DEV's Ottawa facility. It was purchased from MacDonald, Dettwiler & Associates (MDA) in late 2005 as part of a side deal that saw MDA acquire the Canadian operations of Atlanta GA-based EMS Technologies Inc (R$, November 25/05). JWST will be the world's largest space telescope and orbit 1.5 million km from earth....