Artemis 2 Wet Dress Rehearsal Slated for Early February

Canada’s own Jeremy Hansen and his Artemis II crewmates are one step closer to circling the Moon, as NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket with the Orion spacecraft rolled out to Launch Pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center on Saturday, January 17, at 6:42 p.m. ET. The next major milestone is the wet dress rehearsal—a critical test that simulates the full launch countdown, including loading the rocket with cryogenic propellants and practicing safe fuel drainage. The rehearsal is now scheduled for no earlier than February 2.

Following lessons from the uncrewed Artemis I mission, NASA has implemented several technical improvements, including changes to hydrogen loading procedures, hardware modifications, and adjustments to flow temperatures. Artemis launch director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson noted that while these changes reduce risk, “rockets can be rockets—you can have hardware that fails at any time.” If additional work is required, the vehicle may roll back to the Vehicle Assembly Building, potentially shifting the current February 6 launch target to later in the month. Hansen, representing the Canadian Space Agency, joined NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman and fellow crew members in a media briefing after rollout, highlighting the “seamless” collaboration between international partners.

Dominion Dynamics Secures $21M for Arctic Sensing Network

Ottawa-based startup Dominion Dynamics has raised $21 million in a seed funding round led by Georgian, adding to its earlier $4 million pre-seed investment. The company, founded in June 2025, is developing a dual-use Arctic sensing network called Auranet—a system of ruggedized, Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) sensors and autonomous platforms designed to operate across land, sea, air, and space domains. The goal is to provide persistent surveillance across Canada’s vast northern frontier, a strategically critical region for NATO allies.

CEO Eliot Pence, formerly of U.S. defence firm Anduril, emphasized that the system is built for speed, interoperability, and attritability in contested environments. Dominion is also working on an autonomous collaborative drone platform intended to pair with fifth-generation fighter jets. With plans to open a 25,000-square-foot factory in Kanata, Ontario, and expand its XLabs university partnerships, the company is poised to become a key player in Canada’s growing defence-tech ecosystem. As lead investor Margaret Wu of Georgian put it, “Defence is no longer just about hardware; it is about software, data, and speed.” Dominion expects to participate in the Department of National Defence’s Operation Nanook later this year—a clear signal of its strategic relevance to Canadian sovereignty and security.

Sodern Expands Star Tracker Production to Colorado

French aerospace firm Sodern is ramping up its presence in North America with a new production facility in Colorado dedicated to manufacturing star trackers—critical navigation instruments that help spacecraft determine their orientation by identifying star patterns. Known for high-precision sensors used in both civil and military missions, Sodern’s move aims to meet growing demand from U.S. satellite and launch vehicle developers seeking reliable, space-qualified attitude determination systems.

While Sodern remains a European company, its expansion into the U.S. market reflects a broader trend of international suppliers establishing localized production to support national security and supply chain resilience goals. Star trackers may not grab headlines like rockets or rovers, but they’re indispensable for everything from Earth observation satellites to interplanetary probes. As the space economy grows, so does the need for components that “just work” in the harsh environment of space—something Sodern has built a reputation for over decades. The new Colorado facility will likely serve both commercial and government clients, though specific partnerships or contracts have not yet been disclosed.

Citations

• “Updated timeline – First Artemis 2 wet dress rehearsal scheduled” – https://spaceq.ca/updated-timeline-first-artemis-2-wet-dress-rehearsal-scheduled/
• “Dominion Dynamics raises $21M in seed round for dual-use Arctic sensing network” – https://spaceq.ca/dominion-dynamics-raises-21m-in-seed-round-for-dual-use-arctic-sensing-network/
• “Sodern to produce star trackers in Colorado” – https://spacenews.com/sodern-to-produce-star-trackers-in-colorado/