Canada’s first commercial spaceport will soon be operational. Maritime Launch Services, founded in 2016 by director and CEO Stephen Matier, expects its second launch out of the spaceport in the summer of 2025. This is a sequel to the success of the spaceport’s maiden launch in 2023 completed by Arbalest Rocketry, a team from York University in Ontario.

Canadians can expect a suborbital launch to start with orbital launches beginning in 2026. Mateir revealed in a conversation with The Orbiter that the company faced unfortunate delays, mainly due to the conflict in Ukraine, which has impacted the production of the Cyclone-4M rocket. The company recently struck a partnership deal with Montreal, Quebec-based rocket company Reaction Dynamics, Maritime Launch Services, announced via their website on October 15, 2024. This new partnership will see the launch of Canadian rockets from the Canadian spaceport, which is based near Canso, Nova Scotia.

The space sector in Canada is rapidly expanding. A report published by the Canadian Space Agency in September 2024 revealed that in 2022, the Canadian space sector contributed $3.2 billion to Canada’s economy and supported over 25,000 jobs. And this number will only grow, as a report conducted by Deloitte Canada in consultation with Space Canada recently showed in January; the global space sector could exceed $2 trillion by 2040, with Canada generating $40 billion towards the economy. Maritime Launch Services is one of the Canadian companies aiming to lead the future of the Canadian space sector and contribute to the space economy.

 Maritime Launch Services will have economic impacts seen at the local, regional, and national levels. CEO and director Stephen Matier hopes to “encourage local youth to stay by creating jobs in various fields such as engineering, security, and trades.” The company will significantly boost the local economy by providing diverse high-end employment opportunities and is expected to employ around 50 full-time employees once fully operational. When discussing the regional and national impacts, Matier stated that it helps “put Nova Scotia on the map as a global spaceport destination.” Additionally, the company is working alongside other Canadian companies, as most recently seen with their partnership with Reaction Dynamics. Stephen also highlighted the potential for even more Canadian alliances: “Canada is a significant satellite producer but currently lacks domestic launch capabilities, requiring satellites to be launched from other countries.”  

A Canadian spaceport has significant strategic importance. It will enable domestic satellite launches, enhance national security and strategic autonomy, support national security by supporting defence collaborations with the US and other North American partners, and ensure accessibility to launch capabilities, reducing dependency on different countries.

When asked about the future of the Canadian space industry, Matier sees massive potential. He expects we will one day see full vertical integration: “Canada will likely achieve a full spectrum of space services from satellite design and manufacturing to launch and data services,” it will position Canada as a “one-stop-shop for global satellite needs, reducing reliance on foreign partners.”

Matier has long been committed to STEM advocacy, which can be seen with his community involvement and engagement. Matier explained that he “hopes to encourage youth in Canada to envision careers in the space industry.” He can be found doing just that as he has volunteered at local schools in Canso in the surrounding area, promoting STEM careers and getting kids excited about the possibilities their future holds. Inspired by early experiences working at NASA, where he had the opportunity to engage with the local community and speak with high school students, Stephen hopes to expand on this. He hopes to continue his STEM advocacy and provide internship and professional development opportunities for university students at Maritime Launch Services. Matier has an innovative spirit, and one can’t help but be inspired by his charismatic persona. He “encourages aspiring innovators to pursue their ideas despite what obstacles they may face” and stated “The path to success is often non-linear, so don’t get discouraged.”

Canada has a long and vital history in space. Canada was the third country to have a satellite in orbit, with the Allouette-1 launched on September 29, 1962. The country has long been a leader in Space robotics, satellite communications, and emissions monitoring with many notable companies such as MDA, Kepler Communications, Telesat, and GHGSat. Canada is now on the verge of charting new territory as we expand into launch services and rocketry. With companies like Maritime Launch Services, one thing is clear: the future of Canada in space is bright, and we will remain a leader in the space industry.