National Defence has announced a 10-year agreement for access to Newfoundland and Labrador’s Atlantic Spaceport Complex, alongside communications, alliance and training initiatives intended to strengthen Canadian space operations.
A second long-term launch agreement
Canada’s Department of National Defence announced on October 21 that it signed a 10-year, $20-million agreement with NordSpace for access to the Atlantic Spaceport Complex in Newfoundland and Labrador. The department said the agreement will support launches and research and development by the Canadian Armed Forces and its partners. It follows a separate 10-year agreement with Maritime Launch Services announced in March 2026. National Defence says independent launch access is meant to help Canada place critical satellites in orbit when foreign launch markets are disrupted. The broader sovereign launch program was backed by $182.6 million over three years in Budget 2025.
Communications and allied cooperation
The package also includes $17.9 million through the Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security program’s Gateway to the Stars challenge. Within that amount, Kepler Communications received a $4.7-million, two-year contract to develop and test laser-based links that allow satellites to exchange data directly. The department says the work is intended to improve the speed and resilience of communications, particularly in the Arctic and other remote regions, and to support future military operations. Canada has also joined NATO’s STARLIFT initiative as a full member. The project seeks a more responsive network of launch capabilities across allied spaceports.
Building a specialized workforce
The Royal Canadian Air Force is establishing a dedicated Space Mission Operator occupation to recruit and retain personnel for modern space operations. National Defence is also investing $1.2 million over two years through Launch Canada and a space-rocketry talent initiative for student projects, competitions, training and early-stage research. The government estimates recent space investments will support about 3,000 jobs annually across engineering, science, software, advanced manufacturing and related fields. More than $3 billion in space-related contracts, grants and contributions have been announced during 2026, according to the department.
Sources & transparency
Government of CanadaSource release: Minister McGuinty announces strategic advancements for Canada’s sovereign space capabilities
Source: Government of Canada, Minister McGuinty announces strategic advancements for Canada’s sovereign space capabilities, 2026-10-21. No endorsement is implied.
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