The Canadian Space Agency has awarded a contract worth approximately CAD 1.5 million to the Quebec-based company ABB. The funding is designated for the development of the MAGE-ICOS instrument, designed to detect trace amounts of methane in the Martian atmosphere.
ABB is tasked with refining the instrument technology, specifically focusing on reducing measurement noise and increasing sensitivity to match the conditions of the Martian environment. The company will also build and test a prototype to demonstrate the device's performance capabilities.
This initiative is part of the Canadian Space Technology Development Program, which aims to support the creation of new space instruments. The project builds upon previous research funded by the agency and is intended to prepare the technology for potential inclusion in future international Mars missions.
The current contract covers the development and testing phases of the instrument. It does not include a confirmed mission deployment or a specific launch date for the device to be sent to the planet.
