Space startups in Canada
The directory tracks 7 space companies in Canada. They work on communications & connectivity, Earth observation, biosphere, launch and more.
Updated 27 September 2026 · 2 milestones in the last 90 days · Follow by RSS
Where things stand
As of 27 September 2026
Kepler Communications declared its optical data relay network in commercial service in August 2026, with 33 satellites launched. GHGSat measures greenhouse gas emissions from orbit and launched four more satellites in 2025. QEYNet has Canadian Space Agency funding to demonstrate quantum key distribution between the ground and space.
Maritime Launch Services, listed in Canada since 2022, launched the first rocket from Spaceport Nova Scotia in July 2023. In July 2026 Isar Aerospace signed a ten-year deal for a Spectrum complex there. Leap Biosystems trained Mark Pathy and integrated his payloads for Ax-1 in 2022, the first all-private astronaut mission to the ISS. SpaceHabs Studios, a Calgary studio founded in 2025, is making Ares Inception, a Mars mission simulator due in late 2027.
Latest milestones
Every dated event from the companies below, newest first, each with its source.
Kepler Communications: Declares its optical data relay network in commercial service, with 33 satellites launched and more than ten optical ground stations
Maritime Launch Services: Isar Aerospace signs a ten-year deal for a Spectrum complexMaritime Launch Services: Barracuda flight ends in an anomaly late in the boost phase
SpaceHabs Studios: Ares Inception is announced with a public Steam listing, targeting a Q4 2027 releaseMaritime Launch Services: Canada leases a defence pad for $200 million over ten yearsMaritime Launch Services: Second suborbital demonstration flies a T-Minus BarracudaMaritime Launch Services: MDA Space invests $10 million and becomes an equity owner
GHGSat: Launches Teodor and Laila on Transporter-15, timed to coincide with COP30SpaceHabs Studios: Spacehabs Studios Inc. incorporates in Calgary as an Alberta corporationGHGSat: Two more satellites launch on Transporter-14, giving daily methane coverage of industrial regionsShow 11 earlier milestones
QEYNet: Canadian Space Agency contributes over CA$1.4M for an Earth-to-space quantum key distribution demonstrationQEYNet: Canadian Space Agency awards CA$439,000 to adapt its quantum transmitter for space-based key distributionGHGSat: Closes a C$59.9M Series C1 of equity and debt with Fonds de solidarité FTQ and BDC CapitalMaritime Launch Services: First rocket launched from Spaceport Nova ScotiaGHGSat: Launches three methane-monitoring satellites on Transporter-7
SkyWatch: Sidus Space signs on to distribute its constellation data through the TerraStream platformMaritime Launch Services: Shares begin trading on the NEO Exchange as MAXQ
Leap Biosystems: Serves as payload integrator and trainer for Mark Pathy's Ax-1 missionSkyWatch: Raises a $17.2M Series B led by Drive CapitalSkyWatch: Raises a $7.5M Series A led by Bullpen CapitalLeap Biosystems: Dave Williams, physician and two-flight shuttle astronaut, becomes president and CEOAll 7 companies
Companies still operating first, then by latest news.
Kepler Communications High-bandwidth data and IoT
Maritime Launch Services GraduatedCommercial spaceport
SpaceHabs Studios A Mars mission simulator from mission control
GHGSat Monitoring greenhouse gases
QEYNet Microsatellite quantum key network
SkyWatch Earth observation data
Leap Biosystems Space medicine technology
How many space startups are there in Canada?
Space Bandits tracks 7 space companies in Canada. Of those, 6 are active startups, and 1 has grown past the startup stage.
What do space startups in Canada work on?
The biggest groups are communications & connectivity (2), Earth observation (2) and biosphere (1), out of 5 sectors in all.
What is the latest news from space startups in Canada?
The most recent milestone on record is from Kepler Communications, dated 24 August 2026: "Declares its optical data relay network in commercial service, with 33 satellites launched and more than ten optical ground stations."
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