Who are you and what are you building?
Maritime Launch Services is a Canadian-owned commercial space company operating Spaceport Nova Scotia, Canada's first licensed dual-use orbital launch complex, near Canso, Nova Scotia. We build and operate the launch infrastructure, the pads, the facilities, the ground systems, and the operational support that rocket companies and governments need to get satellites into orbit. Our model is similar to an airport: we operate the facility and launch providers operate from it.
Why are Canso and Nova Scotia uniquely positioned in Canada to host a spaceport?
Reaching the orbits that matter most for modern satellites, including polar and sun-synchronous orbits used for Earth observation, weather monitoring, communications, and national security, requires launching from specific latitudes with clear over-ocean trajectories. Canso sits at a latitude that provides direct access to those orbits, with launch trajectories pointing south over thousands of kilometres of open Atlantic Ocean. There is no populated land beneath the flight path. There are very few places on Earth that meet these requirements. Canso is one of them.
What are you launching?
Spaceport Nova Scotia is a dual-use launch site designed for small and medium-class orbital and suborbital launch vehicles. We are focused on the commercial satellite market, including Earth observation constellations, communications satellites, and government and defence payloads. All launch vehicles that operate from our site must have demonstrated heritage, meaning they have launched successfully before.
When is the first orbital launch and why is it so important?
We are targeting late 2027 for the first orbital launch from Spaceport Nova Scotia, with the Government of Canada's goal set at 2028. This will mark the first time a satellite has ever been launched into orbit from Canadian soil. It will establish Canada as one of a small number of nations with sovereign launch capability, reducing reliance on foreign launch infrastructure and opening Canada's space sector to a new era of commercial and economic activity.
What is your construction timeline? When will you be done and what will the area look like?
Construction is active and accelerating. Ground preparation is complete. Construction of core site facilities including launch support infrastructure, a security facility, and operational buildings is expected to begin in summer 2026. The facility will look like operational infrastructure. It is engineered for reliability, repeatability, and long-term commercial use.
What is the agreement between the Government of Canada and Maritime Launch?
The Government of Canada has signed a 10-year facilities agreement with Maritime Launch through the Department of National Defence, establishing Spaceport Nova Scotia as Canada's dedicated sovereign launch site. The agreement supports the operational needs of the Canadian Armed Forces and positions the site as dual-use infrastructure for both commercial and government missions. Canada has also signed onto NATO STARLIFT, which offers dual-use launch capability. Spaceport Nova Scotia is Canada's designated site for that commitment.
Have you engaged with the community and the Mi’kmaq?
Yes, and that engagement predates construction by several years. Maritime Launch has signed a Mutual Benefits Agreement with 13 Mi'kmaq communities in Nova Scotia. We maintain an active Community Liaison Committee that meets regularly with local residents and community leaders. Over the past ten years, we have held a number of open houses, information sessions, and briefings with community organizations and businesses .
Is the site open to the public to visit?
The site is an active construction zone and is not currently open to general public visits. Safety and security requirements restrict access during the construction and operational phases. We are exploring opportunities for future public engagement, including potential viewing experiences for launches, and will share updates through our website and social channels.
What other commercial partners or government allies will use Spaceport Nova Scotia?
We have two launch pad commitments in place: one with the Government of Canada through the DND agreement, and one with a Canadian orbital rocket developer based in Montreal. We expect to announce additional customer agreements in the coming months.
What is Maritime Launch’s and Spaceport Nova Scotia’s local and national economic impact?
The Conference Board of Canada projected that construction of Spaceport Nova Scotia will contribute $171 million to Canada's GDP and support more than 1,600 jobs annually across Canada, including nearly 750 in Nova Scotia, during the construction phase. Once fully operational, the facility is projected to add approximately $300 million to Canada's GDP annually, generate more than $100 million in government revenue, and create close to 1,000 annual, full-year jobs across Canada. The Conference Board report was commissioned by Maritime Launch and produced using Statistics Canada input-output methodology.
Are Maritime Launch and Spaceport Nova Scotia the same?
Maritime Launch Services is the company. Spaceport Nova Scotia is the facility we are building and will operate. The relationship is similar to an airport authority and the airport itself. Maritime Launch owns, develops, and operates Spaceport Nova Scotia.
What rockets are you launching and where are they from?
Spaceport Nova Scotia provides the infrastructure and launch providers bring their vehicles to our site. Our current confirmed and prospective launch partners include international rocket developers and government customers. All vehicles that operate from Spaceport Nova Scotia must have demonstrated launch heritage. We will announce specific customer and vehicle details as agreements are finalized.
Our June 2026 suborbital demonstration uses a vehicle from T-Minus Engineering, a Dutch aerospace company whose rocket has successfully launched from our site before.