By Kurtis Archer | 2025-09-22

Construction work is under way at the site of the future Atlantic Spaceport Complex (ASX) in Newfoundland, which, when it is completed and operational, will be Canada’s first commercial orbital launch facility.

Canadian space technology company NordSpace officially began work on the spaceport August 12, ushering in a new era for Canadian aerospace. Canada currently outsources commercial launches, usually to the United States.

The initial $10 million CAD ($7.2 million) development covers two sites on the Burin Peninsula in the southern part of the island of Newfoundland, which is part of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

The SLC-01 site will have two launch pads to handle orbital missions, while SLC-02 will include at least one smaller launch pad for suborbital missions, along with radar and other ground support equipment for the site’s launch operations.

The finished facility will be able to offer launches with inclinations between 46 and 100 degrees, capable of putting spacecraft into various orbits.

The spaceport is designed to support the Tundra orbital launch vehicle and partner launch vehicles, manufactured by NordSpace. It also will support the first commercial launch of the Taiga suborbital rocket.

NordSpace made several failed attempts to launch its Taiga rocket from St. Lawrence in late August, according to the VCOM.com radio station, and is eyeing late September for another attempt.

"The good news is that the glitch is just a software thing, it’s already fixed and everything’s good. It’s not like there’s anything fundamentally wrong," said NordSpace CEO and founder Rahul Goel.

Sovereign launch capabilities

The facility will be compatible with the Supersonic and Hypersonic Applications Research Platform (SHARP) program, announced in March, which includes the Arrow, Sabre and M2S-HyRock vehicles, designed for both research and defense.

The Burin Peninsula will prove to be the most beautiful launch site in the world, according to Goel, who has said he believes it is important for Canada to take this independent step.

"The start of construction at the Atlantic Spaceport Complex is a seminal moment for Canada," he said.

"This is not just about building a launch site; it’s about building a future where Canada leads in space exploration, innovation, and security."

"It’s amazing to be bringing this kind of energy to what is ordinarily a fishing town. It’s not just Toronto being this tech hub, but extending it to the furthest reaches of this country," Goel shared with BetaKit during Toronto Tech Week.

The spaceport in the Town of St. Lawrence will "provide Canada with sovereign space launch capabilities that it has been lacking for too long," said Newfound and Labrador's Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology Steve Crocker.

Provincial support for spaceport

The province of Newfoundland and Labrador "is strongly supportive of NordSpace’s project, which will open the door in this province to a commercial space sector that is expected to be worth $40 to $50 billion in Canada," he said.

"This will bring more highly-skilled, well-paid jobs to our province, and the great awe and inspiration that space travel evokes in us all."

"The value of developing domestic space launch capabilities, including commercial, cannot be understated as it will allow us to launch Canadian space technologies from Canada," said Space Canada CEO Brian Gallant.

Demand for commercial launch services is growing both nationally and globally, he said, adding that "Canada needs to enhance its domestic launch capabilities."

NordSpace plans to open its fourth location in the provincial capital of St. John’s by 2027 to facilitate ASX operations. It has invited other launch providers to use the spaceport once it is ready.

The company’s activities are expected to generate 650 highly qualified jobs and $2.5 billion in economic development over the next decade.