Information About
NordSpace's Maiden
Flight from the
Atlantic Spaceport Complex
Real-Time Updates

August 24, 2025 18:00 NDT: Transport Canada, RSO (Range Safety Officer), and LSO (Launch Safety Officer) have determined that we will not be launching Monday (August 25) or Tuesday (August 26) due to lower wind speeds in excess of our safety margins. The effects of Hurricane Erin are expected to reduce in intensity by Wednesday (August 27). Our launch window will re-open at 08:00 NDT on Wednesday (August 27) lasting until Friday (August 29). Please visit our page on X to stay informed (https://x.com/Nord_Space).

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This August, NordSpace will be making history by performing the first commercial rocket launch in Canada — a fully privately funded and managed initiative crucial for Canada to build a space launch capability that supports our security, economy, and sovereignty. This launch will also be the first commercial liquid rocket launch in Canadian history, and the first commercial launch from a commercial Canadian spaceport. As you'll note, the word commercial is significant. Globally, the commercial space economy has grown over the past 20 years to accomplish feats only nations and their governments were able to accomplish. In fact, countries like New Zealand, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Norway, Sweden, India, the United Kingdom, and many more have built sovereign space launch capabilities ahead of Canada.

Canada was the third nation to build a satellite with Alouette-1 in 1962, and has a long history of incredible successes in space from robotics to astronauts. Although our nation has never had an orbital launch program (which is what NordSpace aims to deliver), back in the 1950s we did have a government funded and supported sub-orbital rocket program which led to the development of the Black Brant and the Churchill Rocket Research Range in collaboration with Canadian Armament Research and Development Establishment (CARDE) and the National Research Council Canada. In contrast, so far NordSpace's efforts have been entirely privately financed and managed, in line with the growth of commercial space leading the way around the world. We take great pride in advancing Canada's efforts from decades past and taking this first step to open the floodgates to space from Canadian soil.

This pathfinder mission for NordSpace, called "Getting Screeched In", will be a demonstration flight of our fully Canadian-made sub-orbital rocket - Taiga. We believe that it is critical for a Canadian launch capability to be supported by Canadian designed and manufactured rockets, launching from Canadian soil, by a 100% Canadian owned company. Our team has been painstakingly building our Taiga launch vehicle, powered by our proprietary 3D printed liquid rocket engine, called the Hadfield Engine. Explore the FAQ below for more information about this historic launch, and we welcome you to join us as we open this new frontier for Canada.
When and Where is the Launch Taking Place?
The launch is taking place at NordSpace's Atlantic Spaceport Complex (ASX) SLC-02, outside the town of St. Lawrence in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The launch window opens daily from August 25, 2025 to August 29, 2025 at 08:00 NDT. If you are unfamiliar with launches, it is important to note that they often experience scrubs due to weather or technical delays, so we recommend preparing accordingly. Our aim is to launch at the first ideal moment.
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Will the Launch be Livestreamed?
Although nothing compares to experiencing a launch in person, we understand it is difficult for everyone to be there. So, yes, we are live streaming the launch! Check our YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@NordSpace-CA) for the live stream as it becomes available to follow over the weekend. We will also attempt to live stream via X and Linkedin.
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I Heard There is a Public Event on Sunday, August 24th?
We are hosting an exciting event on Sunday, August 24th in collaboration with the Town of St. Lawrence from 12:00 - 2:00 PM NDT, to create an opportunity for the public to meet our engineers and dignitaries, learn about the launch, participate in a ribbon cutting, take photographs with the rocket, and enjoy a BBQ lunch hosted in collaboration with the St. Lawrence Volunteer Fire Department. We will have a shuttle bus running between the St. Lawrence Recreation Center and the ASX SLC-02 (bringing personal vehicles will not be permitted) for public visitors. We recommend wearing closed-toe hiking shoes. The bus will leave at 11:45 AM, 12:15 PM, and 12:45 PM from the recreation center.
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Where Can I Learn More About NordSpace?
NordSpace is an exciting company, building a lot more than just launch vehicles. We are working towards building an end-to-end space mission capability for Canada, which includes everything from infrastructure for testing and launching engines and rockets, to satellites and robotics for low Earth orbit, the Moon, and one day even further in our solar system. Our mission is to advance life on Earth from space, so many of our missions including our first satellite launching next year (called Terra-Nova) are built to be the first step for capabilities like detecting wildfires from space using artificial intelligence, to save homes and lives, or monitoring whale populations in the North Atlantic. To learn more about NordSpace, explore this website, or watch a recent presentation we delivered at the Canadian Space Launch Conference.
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How are you Managing Public Safety?
Safety is always the top priority, and our team has gone to great lengths to ensure it. This is also why we are starting with a smaller scale launch. NordSpace's activities, including this first launch, are heavily regulated and require many approvals from governing bodies including Transport Canada, NAV Canada, the Newfoundland and Labrador Departments of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture, Environment and Climate Change, and many more. We will have regulators and inspectors on-site with us monitoring our activities, along with independent third-party safety inspectors as well who are all highly experienced and certified.

We have spent over a year performing countless tests, thousands of simulations, and investing in a wide array of risk mitigation tools and processes to ensure that everyone is safe. We also are employing local services, like the Fire Department, to assist in case of emergency. However, as long as you follow the guidelines and allow our team of engineers to focus on their efforts, we're sure you'll have a wonderful time witnessing this historic moment for our country.
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Where Do You Recommend Watching the Launch From?
There will be an exclusion zone along Lighthouse Road, so for your safety and for smooth operations please do not follow that road. It will be blocked and managed by Government of Canada staff as well as launch safety personnel. We recommend joining us and the public at the end of the Cape Chapeau Rouge Trail (https://maps.app.goo.gl/83w6xEwPvQf9nn5J8) for the best view. Members of the NordSpace team will also be present there to answer any questions you may have.
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Can I Take My Boat Out to Watch the Launch?
For public safety, the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) has issued a NAVWARN advising all boaters and mariners to remain clear of a maritime exclusion zone surrounding the ASX. This is a 3NM radius of 46 53.160N 055 18.413W. Please visit CCG website here for more details: https://nis.ccg-gcc.gc.ca/public/rest/messages/en/message/173378
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Why Choose Newfoundland & Labrador for the Atlantic Spaceport Complex?
There are over 20 factors we considered when finding the ideal location in Canada to plan and build the Atlantic Spaceport Complex. Launching over the ocean allowed us the maximum number of orbital inclinations we could access and improved safety. Working with a provincial government and local community that is enthusiastic and supportive was also critical, which we found and more in the beautiful province of Newfoundland and Labrador, and Town of St. Lawrence. Access to utilities, roads, and local services were also essential. We explored nearly 30 locations across Canada before deciding on this one. It's now time to build Canada's first gateway to space!

A common misconception is that Canada is too far north for efficient launches. While launches from the equator certainly are more efficient for some orbits, the ASX is situated at a 46° latitude with clear flight paths over a wide range of launch inclinations and is particularly well suited for polar orbits. For reference, Russia has been launching at the same latitude of 46° since the beginning of the space age, and other spaceports around the world at higher latitudes include Andoya (Norway) at 69°, Esrange (Sweden) at 68°, Saxxavord (Scotland) at 61°, Pacific Spaceport Complex (United States) at 57°, and others.
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Do you Offer Special Access for Media?
Yes! Please contact us at contact@nordspace.com for more information. We are excited to have local and national news already committed, and if you'd like to be there as well, please contact us for more information. We will also be releasing video footage of the launch for public use, along with other details.
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Will You be Handing Out any Memoribilia?
Yes! We will be handing out iron-on mission patches (scroll to the bottom of the page to see what they look like) to commemorate this historic event. We'll also be handing out mini Canadian flags, as well as keychains. It's all free, and while supplies last!
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Are Your Activities Affected by the Provincial Fire Ban?
Our team has been in communication with every relevant provincial and federal authority, as they are familiar with the technical aspects of our launch. They have not expressed any concerns. Our launch is an extremely controlled and contained activity (i.e. not an open burning flame), with over a dozen fire suppression and mitigation measures in place, overseen by federal regulators, independent safety officers, the local fire department, and more on-site. A large concrete surface, flame deflector, extinguishers, and a water truck are only some of our measures. By launching over the Atlantic Ocean, our flight will only remain over land for approximately 0.5 seconds before it enters airspace over the ocean.

Interestingly, our first satellite launching next year is being built to use artificial intelligence imaging technology to learn about detecting wildfires from space, among other natural disasters, to help save lives and prevent property damage.
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What is the Difference Between a Sub-Orbital and Orbital Launch?
An orbital launch is one where the rocket reaches not just a higher altitude, but achieves orbital insertion where it has the ability to permanently place objects like satellites in orbit around the Earth. A sub-orbital launch is one where the rocket does not enter Earth's orbit, typically because it is a smaller and less powerful rocket. NordSpace is currently working on its orbital rocket, Tundra, which will be a two-staged vehicle powered by multiple of our 3D printed Hadfield engines. Our Taiga sub-orbital rocket, by contrast, is powered by a single Hadfield engine and a single stage. There are many other important differences such as active versus passive controls, or the feed systems for the propellents (pump versus pressure).

Taiga is about 17 feet tall and 1 foot in diameter. Tundra would be about 75 feet tall and approximately 15 feet in diameter - quite the jump! Tundra would also launch from SLC-01, as SLC-02 will be reserved for smaller launches and ground support equipment for SLC-01 such as satellite/rocket communications, range tracking radar, and more. Taiga's flight is a partially-fuelled test that will last about 45 seconds and reach an apogee of just under 30,000 feet in the maximum case. Our goal is to fly Tundra for the first time as early as 2027.
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Both Taiga and Tundra are liquid fueled rockets, which is an important distinction from much simpler solid fuel rocket systems. Our rockets use conventional kerosene and liquid oxygen for its propellents, with complex systems to manage fluid flows and cryogenics. This allows our rockets to be far safer and more performant, and also allow for reusability. Crucially, our vehicles are designed, manufactured, and flown in Canada.

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Who Can I Contact for More Information?
If you have any questions, please contact us at contact@nordspace.com. If you are contacting us close to the launch, our responses may be slower. If it is urgent, you may also consider contacting the Town of St. Lawrence - they are very helpful and friendly and are a big part of this launch!
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