Canada From Orbit: Canada Clears the Pad: Sovereign Launch, Lunar Dreams, and Secure Space Links

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Canada From Orbit: Canada Clears the Pad: Sovereign Launch, Lunar Dreams, and Secure Space Links

Canada From Orbit

Canada’s Lunar Year Begins with Artemis II in Sight

As 2026 kicks off, Canada is firmly in orbit—and soon, around the Moon—thanks to the accelerating momentum of the Artemis II mission. CSA astronaut Jeremy Hansen remains on track to become the first Canadian to travel beyond low Earth orbit, with NASA targeting a launch no later than April 2026, and possibly as early as February. The crew wrapped up a critical countdown demonstration test on December 20, 2025, simulating launch day procedures at Kennedy Space Center—a key rehearsal in the final stretch before liftoff.

Hansen, backed up by fellow CSA astronaut Jenni Sidey-Gibbons, has been deeply involved in shaping not just Artemis II but future lunar missions. In a recent CSA update, the agency highlighted how both astronauts are “helping to define future Moon missions”—a reminder that Canada’s role in the Artemis program extends well beyond a single flight. Hansen recently shared insights into daily life aboard Orion, including how the crew will sleep in floating sleeping bags clipped to handrails like microgravity hammocks. And in a touching personal note, he’ll carry four moon-shaped pendants engraved with “Moon and back,” each set with his family’s birthstones.

Meanwhile, Canadian scientists are making waves in space science. Using data from the James Webb Space Telescope, a Canadian-led team discovered surprising characteristics of the exoplanet LP 791-18 c, while another group—including three Canadian astronomers—found the strongest evidence yet of an atmosphere on the ultra-short-period planet TOI-561 b. These findings underscore Canada’s growing influence in astrophysics, even without launching its own observatories.

The CSA also marked milestones closer to home: RADARSAT-2 celebrated another year of service, continuing its critical role in environmental monitoring and maritime surveillance. And in lunar preparation news, the agency awarded nearly $4 million in contracts to five Canadian organizations to develop science instruments for Canada’s upcoming lunar utility rover, slated to explore the Moon’s south pole later this decade.

Canada From Orbit: Canada Clears the Pad: Sovereign Launch, Lunar Dreams, and Secure Space Links

Nord Space Clears Environmental Hurdle for Atlantic Spaceport

Canada’s dream of sovereign orbital launch took a giant leap forward this month as Nord Space’s Atlantic Spaceport Complex (ASX) in Newfoundland and Labrador received landmark environmental approval. On December 19, 2025, the province’s Minister of Environment, Conservation and Climate Change officially released the project from the environmental assessment process—removing a major regulatory barrier and paving the way for construction to accelerate.

Located near St. Lawrence on Newfoundland’s southern coast, ASX is designed to support up to 20 launches per year and offers the widest range of launch inclinations in Canada (44° to 105°), enabling access to polar, sun-synchronous, and even select equatorial orbits. The site’s remote location—over five kilometres from the nearest town—ensures safety for medium-lift vehicles like Nord Space’s planned Tundra+ (1,100 kg to LEO) and future reusable Titan (5,000 kg to LEO).

Nord Space is also advancing domestic manufacturing, recently completing tests of additively manufactured solid rocket motor casings and partnering with the National Research Council to develop Canada’s largest composite pressure vessels. The company will present at the Global Spaceport Alliance Summit in Orlando on January 27 and host the Canadian Space Launch Conference in Ottawa on May 5—signalling its growing role in both national and allied space strategy, including participation in NATO’s STARLIFT initiative.

Rendering of Nord Space's Atlantic Spaceport Complex under construction

Maritime Launch Services Bolsters Leadership Team

While Nord Space advances in Newfoundland, Maritime Launch Services in Nova Scotia is strengthening its operational backbone. On January 5, 2026, the company announced the appointment of Melissa Quinn as Vice President of Spaceport Operations. Quinn joins on secondment from MDA Space and brings valuable experience from leading the UK’s Spaceport Cornwall—where she secured the nation’s first spaceport license and oversaw its inaugural (though unsuccessful) orbital launch attempt.

Her mandate at Spaceport Nova Scotia is clear: build a world-class operations team, ensure regulatory compliance, and embed sustainability and community engagement into the launch site’s DNA. Maritime Launch is developing its facility as a dual-use spaceport to support both commercial and government missions, with an emphasis on national security and sovereign access to space. Quinn’s arrival signals the company’s transition from planning to active readiness as Canada edges closer to its first domestic orbital launch.

MDA and Telesat Power Up Canada’s Military Space Comms

In a significant move for national security space infrastructure, MDA Space has partnered with the Canadian Department of National Defence and satellite operator Telesat to deliver next-generation military satellite communications. The collaboration will integrate MDA’s spacecraft and systems expertise with Telesat’s satellite network to provide the Canadian Armed Forces with secure, resilient, and high-capacity satcom capabilities.

While details remain classified, the partnership aligns with Canada’s broader push toward space sovereignty—not just for science and commerce, but for defence. This initiative complements recent federal investments, including $182.6 million for sovereign launch and $357.7 million through the Regional Defence Investment Initiative.

Meanwhile, international space station operations saw several Canadian-relevant events this month. Although no Canadian astronauts were aboard during the recent US spacewalks or Crew-11 return, the ISS remains a key platform for Canadian robotics and science. NASA postponed a January 8 spacewalk due to a crew medical concern (later confirmed as stable), and held multiple briefings on station operations—reminding us that even in lunar-focused times, low Earth orbit remains vital. Canadian astronaut David Saint-Jacques also celebrated his birthday on January 6, a gentle nod to Canada’s continuing human spaceflight legacy.

MDA Space and Telesat collaboration on military satellite communications

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Robo Chris
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Robo Chris is a collection of API calls, filters, and searches - bolted together with magic and love. He preforms instructed information gathering, and does a fair bit of writing too. Everything he creates gets submitted to our editor-in-chief, actual Chris, for approval and publication!