Nova Scotia, Canada's Space Industry is Taking Off

There’s something special happening in Nova Scotia right now. Speaking daily with visionary companies across aerospace, defence, and emerging space technologies, I can confidently say our province has entered a new era of space innovation. 

Backed by national investment, groundbreaking research and a fast-advancing commercial launch ecosystem, Nova Scotia is becoming one of Canada’s most compelling locations for space companies looking to grow.

Here’s what’s fueling the momentum.

Canada’s Space Future has Strong Backing and Nova Scotia is at the Centre

In the 2025 federal budget, Prime Minister Mark Carney committed $182.6 million over three years to build launch capacity across the country. This investment, supporting both spaceport infrastructure and launch vehicle development, signals a clear national direction: Canada intends to play a leading role in the global space economy. 

And Nova Scotia is exceptionally well positioned to be a part of that strategy.

Spaceport Nova Scotia: Canada’s First Commercial Launch Site

No conversation about the province’s space sector is complete without Spaceport Nova Scotia, operated by Maritime Launch Services (MLS), Canada’s first commercial launch complex capable of placing satellites into polar and sun-synchronous orbits. 

Over the past few months, MLS has reached several major milestones that significantly advance Canada’s path to sovereign launch capability. 

August 2025: MLS signs a pathfinder launch agreement with Reaction Dynamics and secures a dedicated launchpad through strategic investment. 

October 2025: Export Development Canada provides a $10 million loan to accelerate launchpad and infrastructure development. 

November 2025: MDA Space invests $10 million in equity, joins the MLS board, and becomes an operational partner, a strong vote of confidence in the project’s national importance. The same month, MLS completes its second successful suborbital rocket launch, demonstrating clear technical progress.

Collectively, these developments signal to the world that Nova Scotia is ready to support commercial launch operations at scale.

Homegrown Innovation: Dalhousie Space Systems Lab

Nova Scotia's research strengths are anchored by Dalhousie University’s Dalhousie Space Systems Lab (DSS), the province's first spaceflight systems lab.

DSS has built deep partnerships with the Canadian Space Agency and MDA, enabling real missions that turn learning into real-world impact. In 2022, the team launched LORIS, the first satellite designed, built, and tested in Atlantic Canada. Roughly the size of two Rubik’s Cubes, LORIS deployed from the International Space Station to study ocean systems surrounding Nova Scotia.

This blend of academic excellence, applied research, and industry collaboration is exactly what space companies look for when selecting a location to innovate

A Growing Cluster of Space Technology Leaders

Nova Scotia is home to an expanding community of companies pushing boundaries in space technology:

• MDA Space - a global powerhouse with more than 55 years of heritage and more than 450 missions, continues to lead in communications satellites, Earth and space observation, robotics, and exploration systems.
• Galaxia Mission Systems - creator of MÖBIUS-1, the world’s first software-defined “virtual satellite-as-a-service.” Backed in part by Canadian Space Agency investment, this $2.8 million project is a powerful example of the kind of ingenuity coming out of Nova Scotia.
• GSTS (Global Spatial Technology Solutions) - a global leader in maritime intelligence, using satellite and data analytics solutions to improve safety, sustainability, and decision-making on the world’s oceans.

These companies, alongside emerging innovators, are building real solutions with global impact, right here at home.

Why Companies are Talking to Us

When I speak with companies shaping the future of the space sector, I hear the same needs again and again:

• Access to launch infrastructure
• Collaboration with industry and research partners
• A stable, cost-competitive location for building and scaling
• Strong technical talent and a steady pipeline of graduates
• An environment where innovation thrives

Nova Scotia checks all those boxes.

Whether you’re building satellite technologies, operating in Earth observation, developing launch vehicles, or pioneering data and analytics platforms, you’ll find a supportive ecosystem here ready to help you grow.

Let’s Talk About Your Growth Plans

If you’re exploring opportunities in Canada or looking for a strategic location in North America with emerging launch capacity, strong R&D assets, and a collaborative industry community, I’d love to connect.

I’m always happy to chat about your technology, your goals, and how Nova Scotia can help you accelerate them.

Reach out anytime.

Connect with Jonathan Coles, Investment Attraction Executive.