Ottawa, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, and NordSpace have jointly committed $10 million towards establishing a commercial spaceport on Newfoundland’s Burin Peninsula. The Atlantic Spaceport Complex, to be developed by the Ontario-based aerospace company, will be situated in St. Lawrence and aims to become Canada’s first fully operational orbital spaceport.

NordSpace disclosed that the federal government is allocating $1 million through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency’s Regional Economic Growth through Innovation program. Newfoundland and Labrador will contribute a total of $4 million, comprising a $1 million term loan and a $3 million forgivable loan linked to generating 100 full-time, permanent positions by 2033. Additionally, NordSpace is investing $5 million into the project.

CEO of NordSpace, Rahul Goel, emphasized the significance of this endeavor, stating, “This initiative is not solely about constructing a spaceport but about forging a path where Canada takes the lead in space exploration by launching Canadian vehicles, originating from Canadian territory, carrying Canadian payloads.”

Following technical and logistical challenges that led to the cancellation of a previous launch attempt of its suborbital Taiga rocket in St. Lawrence, NordSpace is now prepared for another launch pending authorization.

Sean Fraser, the federal minister overseeing ACOA, highlighted the importance of investing in space exploration, emphasizing that Canada must not lag behind other nations in developing its space capabilities. This development follows the introduction of the Canadian Space Launch Act in the House of Commons, aimed at setting a legislative framework for space launch and re-entry activities in Canada.

Currently reliant on other countries like the United States for launching civilian and military spacecraft into orbit, Canada is poised to enhance its launch capabilities with the involvement of NordSpace, which will also contribute to job creation and bolster Newfoundland and Labrador’s attractiveness for private investments.

Minister of Jobs, Growth, and Rural Development in Newfoundland and Labrador, Lin Paddock, underscored the province’s potential role in enhancing national defense through projects like the Atlantic Spaceport Complex. Paddock noted that this initiative will diversify the province’s economy and enhance its presence in the rapidly expanding global space industry.