Nova Scotia spaceport delayed: developer
HALIFAX • The start date for the construction of Canada’s only commercial spaceport has been pushed back, a developer said following meetings at the proposed rocket launch site near a small fishing community on Nova Scotia’s eastern shore.
Stephen Matier, president and CEO of Maritime Launch Services Ltd., said his firm had hoped to break ground this month on the $200-million project that could eventually see as many as 12 satellites blast into orbit per year.
But Matier now says the launch site in Canso likely won’t start being developed until later this year, although he was hesitant to impose a new timeline.
The project is aimed at attracting consortiums of firms to put satellites into orbit for commercial purposes, such as near-Earth imaging.
It is a private-sector venture, but requires the province’s environmental and other regulatory approvals.
There are still a number of hurdles to overcome before construction can begin, but Matier said good progress has been made.
Last week, he met with provincial and federal officials, aerospace companies, environmental firms, engineering firms and construction companies. He also visited the site in Canso and met with a community group that included officials with Guysborough County, the fisheries industry and residents.
“I’ve been delighted by the level of support from the community,” said Matier.
He expects to submit an environmental assessment to the province within the next two or three weeks.
The assessment will also go the Natural Resources Department as part of the company’s Crown land lease application.
“(The environmental assessment) is the real big key piece for us,” said Matier, adding that the process takes around 50 days.
“If all the regulatory approvals go well, then we’ll be able to get the land lease application finalized and everything ready to go so we actually have control of the property so that we can actually do the groundbreaking we want to do to get things started a little later this summer or early this fall.”
He said his firm is still aiming for the first round of satellite launches to begin in 2021 and 2022.
Matier said he’s also been meeting with satellite manufacturers and investors in Toronto and Ottawa. He said the financing pieces of the project are “comfortably starting to fall into place.”
Discussions with Transport Canada are ongoing, and Matier said Maritime Launch Services has already provided the department with documents related to ground safety and flight safety, and is working on obtaining an aeronautical study related to restricted airspace.
Matier said the rocket complex will feature three sites: The launch pad area, which is closest to the water, the facility where different rocket stages and payloads would be integrated, and the launch control centre.