NordSpace is preparing to launch its six-metre tall Taiga rocket in St. Lawrence, N.L. (Peter Cowan/CBC)
The launch of Canada’s first-ever commercial rocket has been delayed to Friday afternoon.
It’s a test of NordSpace’s single-engine rocket, called Taiga — a six-metre tall rocket created using 3D-printed metal. The launch was originally scheduled for Monday, was hampered by the weather.
The launch was delayed again on Friday morning due to an issue with one of the final steps: a quick disconnect from the nitrogen tank, according to the company. NordSpace said the rocket entered safe mode around that time.
Another attempt will be made during a launch window at 3 p.m. NT.
NordSpace CEO Rahul Goel says he’s optimistic the second attempt will go well.
When the launch does finally happen, it will be suborbital, meaning the rocket won’t orbit Earth, and will only be in the air for about a minute before it splashes into the Atlantic Ocean.
Excitement in the air
St. Lawrence Mayor Kevin Pittman says the town office has been taking calls about the launch all week.
“There are people all over town finding the best spot,” Pittman said in an interview Friday morning.
The mayor added that he expects the spaceport will bring “tremendous” potential for tourism in the area.
NordSpace CEO Rahul Goel says the company is ready for Canada’s first commercial space launch on Friday, when the Taiga rocket launches from St. Lawrence. (Curtis Hicks/CBC)
NordSpace CEO Rahul Goel told CBC News his team is beyond excited for the launch.
“This is something that our whole team has been working so long for, investing so much in,” Goel said. “We want to deliver success.”
Speaking with CBC News in January, Goel said St. Lawrence serves as a top location for a commercial space launch because of its ideal position to achieve the right orbital inclinations for a rocket launch.
NordSpace was founded in 2022, and built the rocket entirely in Canada. Goel said he believes the country’s first commercial spaceport will greatly benefit the St. Lawrence area, while creating jobs and helping Canada toward space sovereignty.
“To show Canadians that we can do this, and especially [in] a place like rural Newfoundland, I think it’s just so special,” Goel said.
“Doing this in a commercial way is what’s really important about this, and this is going to be the first step to unlocking that for Canada.”
NordSpace is also planning another suborbital launch next year, with plans to send it’s larger Tundra rocket into orbit in 2027.
It will also be expanding its operations in St. Lawrence with a second launch pad and infrastructure developments in the coming years, Goel said.
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