MDA Space Selected Terma for Satellite Testing Gear
MDA Space has tapped Denmark-based Terma to supply specialized checkout systems for its modular AURORA satellite line.
Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Space
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MDA Space has selected Danish aerospace firm Terma to provide ground support equipment for its AURORA satellite platform. This hardware will be used to verify spacecraft performance during manufacturing and launch preparation for future satellite constellations.
Why it matters
The deal provides MDA Space with standardized testing infrastructure as it attempts to scale production of its modular, software-defined satellites. Reliable, repeatable checkout systems are essential for maintaining quality control across high-volume production lines.
Terma will supply power check-out equipment based on its UniverSAS product line alongside radio-frequency and central checkout systems derived from its CCS5 platform. These systems are designed to support electrical and system-level validation across the standardized architecture of the AURORA product line.
The players
MDA Space
A Canadian space technology firm specializing in satellite systems, robotics, and geointelligence services.
Terma
A Danish aerospace and defense company known for producing modular ground support equipment and avionics systems.
The details
The testing suite utilizes modular hardware architectures to allow for repeatable verification processes across diverse spacecraft configurations. UniverSAS units are used to simulate and measure electrical power characteristics, while CCS5 central checkout systems provide the integrated software control required to monitor the health of spacecraft hardware during the manufacturing and integration phase.
Timeline
September 22, 2026: Terma selection by MDA Space was publicly announced.
The Tech Race
This integration follows a broader industry shift toward modular, software-defined satellite buses that favor standardized testing. By partnering with Terma, MDA Space aims to stabilize its testing pipeline to meet the production volumes required for large-scale orbital constellations.
This integration enables faster assembly of communication and remote sensing satellite constellations by reducing the time required for electrical validation. Industry operators and network providers should expect a more predictable delivery schedule for AURORA-based orbital hardware as production scales.
The takeaway
Standardized testing hardware is the critical bottleneck for companies attempting to transition from one-off satellite manufacturing to constellation-scale production. Observers should track the delivery timelines of the first AURORA units to see if this testing partnership accelerates the deployment phase.
Further reading
For more on the development of satellite infrastructure and orbital hardware, visit Space.
Source note: This article includes information reported by SpaceWatch.
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