Canada Declares Space a “Sovereign Capability” in New Defence Strategy

On February 17, 2026, the Canadian government made its most significant defence-industrial commitment to space in decades, naming the sector a “Key Sovereign Capability” under its new Defence Industrial Strategy. Unveiled by Prime Minister Carney, the strategy aims to prioritize Canadian companies in defence procurement, reduce reliance on foreign suppliers, and ensure sovereign control over critical space infrastructure. The plan identifies five space sub-sectors for priority investment: Space-Based Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance; Space Domain Awareness; Satellite Communications; and Space Launch.

Backing the policy is a $6.6 billion allocation from Budget 2025, with projected defence procurement spending in space reaching $180 billion by 2035. The strategy also establishes a “Build-Partner-Buy” framework—first sourcing from Canadian firms, then co-developing with trusted allies (like Five Eyes or EU partners), and only purchasing foreign systems as a last resort. New funding mechanisms, including the Defence Innovation Program and the newly created BOREALIS research bureau, will support small and medium enterprises in advancing space technologies. For Canadian space firms, the message is clear: if you can build it, the government intends to buy it.

SpaceX’s Stargaze System Promises Real-Time Space Traffic Coordination

SpaceX has unveiled Stargaze, a novel space traffic management system that leverages its massive Starlink constellation to track objects in orbit with unprecedented frequency. Announced in late January and detailed in a February 18 report, Stargaze uses star tracker cameras aboard nearly 10,000 Starlink satellites to collect nearly 30 million daily observations of other objects in orbit. This data enables near real-time updates to orbital trajectories and rapid detection of potential collisions—critical as the number of satellites in low Earth orbit continues to surge.

In one notable example from December 2025, Stargaze detected a last-minute maneuver by an unidentified spacecraft that reduced a projected miss distance from 9,000 metres to just 60 metres. SpaceX’s system triggered an immediate avoidance maneuver by a Starlink satellite—something the company says would have been impossible using legacy radar systems. Starting this spring, SpaceX will offer the service free to all satellite operators, provided they share their own ephemeris data (i.e., satellite positions and planned maneuvers). Industry experts have hailed the move as a potential “game changer,” though concerns remain about data consistency and the impact on smaller, commercial SSA providers.

Artemis II Wet Dress Rehearsal Cleared for February 19

NASA has resolved a critical issue that stalled preparations for the Artemis II mission and is now targeting Thursday, February 19, 2026, for a second wet dress rehearsal. Engineers over the weekend of February 14–15 successfully replaced a faulty filter in ground support equipment that had restricted liquid hydrogen flow during a confidence test on February 12. With the repair complete and environmental conditions restored, the agency confirmed the countdown for the rehearsal will begin today, February 18, at 6:40 p.m. EST, culminating in a simulated launch at 8:30 p.m. EST on February 19.

The approximately 50-hour test will include two full runs of the final 10-minute terminal count, with holds and countdown recycles to mimic real-world launch scrubs. While the Artemis II crew won’t be aboard, closeout teams will practice sealing the Orion spacecraft hatch—a key step in validating crew operations. If successful, this rehearsal paves the way for a potential crewed launch as early as March 6. The Artemis II mission will carry four astronauts on a lunar flyby, marking humanity’s first crewed journey beyond low Earth orbit since Apollo 17 in 1972.

Citations

• “Space identified as a key sovereign capability in new Defence Industrial Strategy” – https://spaceq.ca/space-identified-as-a-key-sovereign-capability-in-new-defence-industrial-strategy/
• “SpaceX unveils space traffic management system” – https://spacenews.com/spacexs-unveils-space-traffic-management-system/
• “Engineers replace faulty filter as NASA clears path for Artemis 2 wet dress rehearsal” – https://spaceq.ca/engineers-replace-faulty-filter-as-nasa-clears-path-for-artemis-2-wet-dress-rehearsal/