MDA awarded NASA contract

Richmond, B.C. - MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (TSX: MDA), a provider of essential information solutions, announced today that it has received a $7 million (CAD) contract from NASA to develop an enhanced platform for Dextre, a component of the Canadian Mobile Servicing System for the International Space Station. The contract also provides for real-time mission support of Shuttle robotics.

The Mobile Servicing System is Canada's contribution to the International Space Station. The Mobile Servicing System, including Canadarm2 and Dextre a versatile, high precision two-armed dexterous manipulator, are built and supported by MDA under contract to the Canadian Space Agency.

Dextre will take its place on the International Space Station in March this year equipped with a temporary platform. Under this contract MDA will build a new, enhanced, multi-sided rotating platform to replace the temporary platform. The new platform is expected to be installed, on-orbit, in 2010.

The Mobile Servicing Systems will play a central role in the maintenance of the International Space Station over the coming years, and continued mission planning, ground control and maintenance of these components will remain essential to the operation of the Mobile Servicing System.

The Canadian Commercial Corporation is acting as the contracting agency between MDA and NASA and has executed the contract.

About MDA

MDA provides advanced information solutions that capture and process vast amounts of data, produce essential information, and improve the decision making and operational performance of business and government organizations worldwide.

Focused on markets and customers with strong repeat business potential, MDA delivers a broad spectrum of information solutions, ranging from complex operational systems, to tailored information services, to electronic information products.

MDA employs more than 3,000 people in locations across the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada. The Company's common shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol TSX:MDA.

Related Websites:
www.mdacorporation.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements and information, which reflect the current view of MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. with respect to future events and financial performance. Any such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties and MDA's actual results of operations could differ materially from historical results or current expectations. Additional information on these and other potential factors that could affect MDA's financial results are detailed in documents filed from time to time with the applicable Canadian securities regulatory authorities.

The Toronto Stock Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the form or content of this release.