COM DEV International

COM DEV International Ltd.
Limited corporation
Industry Aerospace components
Telecommunications
Founded 1974
Founder Dr. Val O'Donovan
Dr. Chandra Kudsia[1]
Headquarters Cambridge, Ontario, Canada
Key people
 Michael Pley, CEO (2010)
Gary Calhoun, CFO (2002)
Dr. Roberta Bondar, Board member (2008)
Terry Reidel, Chair
Michael Williams, COM DEV International Products[2]
Products Aerospace research and manufacturing
Space sciences
Telecommunication products
Website COM DEV International

COM DEV International is a satellite technology, space sciences and telecommunications company with headquarters in Cambridge, Ontario, Canada. The company has branches and offices in Ottawa, the United States, the United Kingdom, China and India.

COM DEV develops and manufactures specialized satellite systems, including microwave systems, switches, optical systems, specialized satellite antennas, as well as components for in the aviation and aerospace industry. The company produces custom equipment designs for commercial, military and civilian purposes, as well as providing contract research for the space sciences.

History

The company was founded in 1974 and specialized in microwave technology for the aviation and aerospace industry. In the 1990s they branched off into space satellite componentry and hardware, specializing in telecommunication systems,[3] and has since become a global designer and builder of telecommunication components and systems for space satellites, as well as one of Canada’s largest sources of spacecraft instrumentation.[4]

In 2001 its space products division opened an approximate $7M Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) development and manufacturing laboratory in its Cambridge facility.[5]

In 2005 it purchased the EMS Technologies Space Science optical division in Ottawa, formerly CAL Corporation, from MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates for $5M.[6]

In 2007 it purchased a Passive Microwave division in El Segundo California for $8.75M.[7]

In 2010 it purchased Ottawa-based space instrument supplier Routes AstroEngineering for $1.7M.[8]

In 2010 it established a subsidiary called exactEarth(TM) offering global ship tracking data services.[9]

Products

Since the 1990s the company has manufactured components for satellites including:

Projects

The company has developed and built satellites assemblies or components for over 900 satellite missions, including:

Upcoming missions include:

Past projects have also included an Automatic Identification System (AIS) validation nanosatellite launched on an Antrix PSLV-C9 vehicle from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, India in April 2008. The AIS experimental spacecraft was built under contract by the University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies (UTIAS) Space Flight Laboratory (SFL), which also designated with the responsibility for its operation.[10]

Research and development

The company provides research and development work in aeronautics and space technology. Many modules of the company are used in many well-known space probes and satellites. The company cooperates with major space agencies, including NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), JAXA, Indian Space Research Organisation and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).

See also

References

Citations

  1. ↑ COM DEV ‘Space Pioneer’ Contributes, McMaster University, Faculty of Engineering, March 5, 2010.
  2. ↑ COM DEV International Ltd., Reuters.com website.
  3. ↑ National Defense and COM DEV International to Further Develop Satellite Communications Technology, Government of Canada, Department of National Defense, October 13, 1998, Project number: NR-98.081.
  4. ↑ Brief from COM DEV CANADA, Government of Canada, Committee Hearing WD5138047.
  5. ↑ Williams, David. Com Dev Space Opens New SAW Lab., Satellite Today, May 24, 2001. Retrieved July 17, 2014 via Highbeam.com
  6. ↑ COM DEV acquires former EMS Technologies division, Nov. 23, 2005. Retrieved oct. 16, 2014
  7. ↑ COM DEV announces official launch of US operations, May 22, 2007. Retrieved Oct. 16, 2014
  8. ↑ COM DEV buys Ottawa-based subcontractor Routes AstroEngineering fo $1.7M, April 6, 2010. Retrieved Oct. 16, 2014
  9. ↑ COM DEV established subsidiary exactEarth to offer space-based AIS services starting in 2010, June 10, 2009. Retrieved Oct. 16, 2014
  10. ↑ COM DEV Launches Advanced Space-Based AIS Validation Nanosatellite, SpaceRef.com website, April 28, 2008.

Bibliography

External links