Canada is on the cusp of a historic moment in its space exploration journey. NordSpace, a Canadian startup, aims to conduct the country’s first commercial liquid-fueled rocket launch with its suborbital Taiga rocket. The launch, scheduled for mid-August, marks a significant step towards establishing Canada’s domestic space industry.
NordSpace’s Taiga rocket is a small, liquid-fueled launch vehicle capable of carrying just over 110 pounds to an altitude above the Karman Line. While it won’t reach orbit on its first flight, the suborbital demonstration will test the rocket’s capabilities and pave the way for future launches.
The company’s ultimate goal is to develop a larger rocket, Tundra, which will be capable of launching payloads to low-Earth orbit. NordSpace plans to debut Tundra in late 2027, with the aim of establishing a monthly launch schedule by the end of the decade.
Canada’s lack of orbital launch capability has been a significant gap in its space contributions. However, NordSpace and its partner ProtoSpace are working to fill this void. ProtoSpace specializes in high-velocity manufacturing and delivery of specialized space-grade components, boasting production times of just two to three days.
The company’s success is attributed to its focus on innovation and reducing regulatory barriers. NordSpace CEO Rahul Goel believes that the company’s approach can be replicated by other nations looking to develop their own sovereign launch capabilities.
“We’re not building for a space industry of one,” Goel said. “Our goal is to create infrastructure that other Canadians can leverage, making it easier for them to pursue their own space ambitions.”
Source: https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/can-canada-get-to-orbit-companies-nordspace-and-protospace-hope-to-launch-countrys-1st-space-mission-exclusive