Insider Brief:
- NordSpace announced a $5 million investment in developing the first phase of Spaceport Canada, the nation’s first operational spaceport, which will be designed to support the Tundra launch vehicle and partner launch vehicles under the forthcoming Technology Safeguards Agreement (TSA) between Canada and the United States.
- Over the next decade, the project is expected to create 650 highly qualified jobs and generate $2.5 billion in economic development.
- The company plans to announce the selected location for Spaceport Canada ahead of the second launch of its experimental suborbital vehicle.
NordSpace Corp., an Ontario-based space technology company, announced a $5 million investment in developing Spaceport Canada. This marks the first phase of the nation’s first operational spaceport, designed to support the Tundra launch vehicle and partner launch vehicles under the forthcoming Technology Safeguards Agreement (TSA) between Canada and the United States.
Spaceport Canada will be a commercial facility owned and operated by NordSpace. The site will host two launch pads, Pad A and Pad B. Pad A will handle launches for NordSpace’s Tundra vehicle, while Pad B will support U.S. partner launches. The spaceport will provide launch inclinations ranging from 45 to 95 degrees, allowing access to a wide range of equatorial and polar orbits.
Canada stands as the only G7 nation without sovereign launch capabilities. NordSpace aims to change this by building Canada’s first vertically integrated space launch solution. The project spans sustainable launch vehicles, portable spaceport solutions, and affordable satellite systems. NordSpace is working closely with various government bodies, including Transport Canada, NAV Canada, Global Affairs Canada, the Canadian Space Agency, and Space Canada.
The benefits of Spaceport Canada extend beyond space exploration. This development will bolster national security, enhance environmental protection efforts, and position Canada as a global leader in the commercial space industry. Over the next decade, the project is expected to create 650 highly qualified jobs and generate $2.5 billion in economic development.
NordSpace’s CEO, Rahul Goel, emphasized the significance of this venture, urging the nation to seize this opportunity to lead in the new commercial space era. Brian Gallant, CEO of Space Canada and former Premier of New Brunswick, also highlighted the strategic importance of developing domestic space launch capabilities.
NordSpace has toured multiple sites across Canada, engaging with local communities and governments, conducting environmental and aeronautical studies, and submitting rezoning and land acquisition applications. The company plans to announce the selected location for Spaceport Canada ahead of the second launch of its experimental suborbital vehicle.
The Canadian government supports commercial space launches. The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science, and Industry, stated that enabling commercial space launches will foster a vibrant and growing space sector, create thousands of jobs, and enhance Canada’s international competitiveness and domestic resilience.
Image credit: NordSpace
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