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Monday, May 25

21

CSA outlines agile procurement strategy and reassures sector on robotics amid WildFireSat reset

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At the Space Canada Horizons conference on May 20, Canadian Space Agency (CSA) President Lisa Campbell addressed the space sector, outlining an ongoing shift in the agency’s procurement strategy. Campbell emphasized speed, iterative…

19

In Defence of Canada Briefing (Issue 11)

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Welcome to Issue 11 of the In Defence of Canada Briefing.

14

The invisible point of failure in Canadian space sovereignty

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The unofficial word of the day at Wednesday’s Space Canada Horizons conference was “sovereignty”. Every presentation seemed to have the word in it, and for many, it was the core premise of the speaker’s talk. This was especially true of…

01

Starship flight 12 validates V3 reentry systems despite early booster termination

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SpaceX successfully launched its Starship Version 3 (V3) architecture on its inaugural test flight on Friday, May 22. The mission, designated Flight 12, achieved the primary objective of placing the Starship upper stage on a suborbital…

Friday, May 22

21

Accelerating space defence: RCAF Generals call for sovereign manoeuvre and rapid procurement

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LONGUEUIL, QC – The message from the Royal Canadian Air Force’s top space leadership at this year’s Space Canada Horizons conference was unmistakable: space is a contested domain, and Canada’s approach to space defence can no longer afford…

19

CSA releases 2025 State of the Space Sector Report: R&D spending surges as broadcasting continues decline

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The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) today released the State of the Canadian Space Sector Report 2025, detailing the economic performance of the industry based on data collected from the 2024. The report shows an industry in transition: while…

17

Starship V3 launch scrubbed at t-40 seconds; Friday attempt planned

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The inaugural test flight of SpaceX's Starship Version 3 (V3), the 12th Starship flight test, was scrubbed on May 21, 2026, after multiple holds and resets at the T-40 seconds, during the terminal countdown.

Thursday, May 21

21

Reaction Dynamics reveals new Longueuil facility and signs MOU with South Korea’s Hanwha Ocean

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After a full day of presentations at the Space Canada Horizons 2026 conference, many attendees took a short drive from the Canadian Space Agency to Reaction Dynamics’ newly opened facility nearby. This reception was held for two reasons:…

19

DND and ISED launch $5.5M in challenges for Arctic optical comms and quantum repeaters

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The government has issued two new Innovative Solutions Canada (ISC) challenges aimed at the domestic space and high-tech sectors, offering up to $5.55 million in total potential funding for the development of transportable optical ground…

18

NASA aligns space technology investments with industry shortfalls and Ignition initiative

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NASA has outlined its 40 primary technology focus areas for Fiscal Year 2026, signalling a concentrated effort to fund the capabilities necessary for long-term lunar infrastructure and deep space exploration.

Wednesday, May 20

20

Alex MacDonald urges rapid Canadian pivot to lunar surface robotics

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LONGUEUIL, QC – Speaking at today’s Space Canada Horizons conference being held at the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) headquarters, former NASA Chief Economist Alex MacDonald delivered a direct message to Canada’s space sector: adapt…

18

Leadership is hard (Part II): The leaders who don’t want to lead

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There’s a particular kind of founder that I have encountered in my coaching work that stands out. This is the founder who came to the decision to found a business later in life. Often, quite a bit later in life.

14

Starship flight 12: SpaceX debuts redesigned architecture

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SpaceX is targeting Thursday for the twelfth flight test of its Starship launch system. The upcoming mission shifts the testing focus from incremental stage recovery to validating heavily redesigned hardware, stressing structural endurance…

Tuesday, May 19

20

NAV CANADA sells foundational Aireon stake in US$166M sale to Iridium

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NAV CANADA is selling its long-held stake in the real-time, global air traffic surveillance and aviation data tracking company Aireon LLC. Iridium Communications is acquiring the remaining 61 percent stake in the space-based air traffic…

18

In Defence of Canada Briefing (Issue 10)

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Welcome to Issue 10 of the In Defence of Canada Briefing. This week, the theoretical scale of allied space defence collided with financial reality. As detailed in our Lead story, the Congressional Budget Office has pinned a US$1.2 trillion…

Monday, May 18

Standing ovations and local cheers: The Artemis II crew meets Montréal

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Following their public appearances in Ottawa, the Artemis II crew rounded out their media tour this week with two visits in the Montréal area.

Friday, May 15

19

PwC report: Lunar Economy projected to generate up to US$127 billion by 2050

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A market assessment released in January from PwC projects that lunar surface activities will transition from isolated scientific missions to a sustained commercial ecosystem over the next quarter-century.

Thursday, May 14

Ottawa advances 2026 pre-budget consultations: what the accelerated timeline means for the space sector

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The Canadian space sector has just over a week to finalize its federal funding suggestions, following a scheduling shift in the government’s annual pre-budget consultation process.

NASA details preliminary flight plan for revised Artemis III Earth orbit mission

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NASA has provided preliminary operational details for the Artemis III mission, confirming the 2027 flight will serve as a low Earth orbit (LEO) demonstration of rendezvous and docking procedures with commercial lunar landers.

18

Calian Group details Q2 2026 earnings and defence & space segment performance

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Calian Group Ltd. has released its financial results for the second quarter of fiscal 2026, reporting total revenue of $229 million, which represents an 18% year-over-year increase. The Ottawa-headquartered company stated that this growth…

14

CBO’s US$1.2T Golden Dome estimate: Weighing the price of Canadian involvement

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The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that a national missile defence system meeting the objectives of the U.S. “Golden Dome” initiative would cost approximately $1.2 trillion to develop, deploy, and operate over a 20-year period.

Wednesday, May 13

23

Secure World Foundation issues responsible investment guide for the space sector

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A recent report published by the Secure World Foundation (SWF) is calling on the global investment community to treat space as a fragile and shared domain, arguing that long-term financial returns depend heavily on sustainable orbital…

21

Artemis II crew meets with Prime Minister Carney following historic mission

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Following their successful 10-day lunar flyby, the Artemis II crew visited Ottawa today to meet with Prime Minister Mark Carney, marking the astronauts’ first official visit to the nation’s capital since returning to Earth.

20

CSA astronaut Joshua Kutryk highlights need for diverse workforce in new video

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In his first since being named as a member of the upcoming International Space Station Crew-13, Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Joshua Kutryk emphasized that the continued expansion of the space sector requires a multidisciplinary…

19

Mark Pathy donates $15M to Concordia University to establish new space institute

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Montreal-based entrepreneur and former private astronaut Mark Pathy has donated $15 million to Concordia University to establish the Mark Pathy Space Institute at the Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science.

14

Star Catcher secures US$65M Series A to develop orbital power grid

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tar Catcher Industries has closed an oversubscribed US$65 million Series A funding round to accelerate the development of its in-space power infrastructure. The round was led by B Capital, with Shield Capital and Cerberus Ventures acting…

Tuesday, May 12

21

U.S. Space Force awards initial $3.2B for ‘Golden Dome’ interceptors

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The U.S. Space Force has kicked off the hardware development phase for its ‘Golden Dome’ missile defence architecture, awarding up to $3.2 billion in contracts for a new constellation of space-based interceptors (SBIs).

19

Blue Origin lunar lander cabin mock-up arrives as NASA’s Artemis face delays

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A full-scale mock-up of a crew cabin for a future lunar lander for NASA’s Artemis program now is operational for training and testing. Located in the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, the full-scale prototype of…

Monday, May 11

20

Lunar Outpost raises $30M Series B for lunar surface mobility; MDA Space is among the consortium partners

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Lunar Outpost has closed a $30 million Series B funding round led by Industrious Ventures. The capital will support the Colorado-based company’s development of lunar surface mobility and infrastructure systems as it prepares to execute…

In Defence of Canada Briefing (Issue 9)

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Editor’s Note: Across the allied space and defence sectors, the mandate is shifting. As outlined in this week’s feature analysis of the newly released State of the Space Industrial Base (SSIB) 2025 report, the primary bottleneck for the…