Support for Canada’s space industry marks one giant leap towards recovery

On July 20, 1969, American astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin became the first people to ever land on the moon. The moment was iconic. Roughly 650 million viewers watched those first few steps on their television screens, cementing the United States as the winner of the global space race. However, underpinning the moon landing is a lesser-known Canadian contribution that began 10 years earlier. It started with what has been deemed the “closest thing Canadian industry has to both a love story and a murder mystery”—when the Avro Arrow program was cancelled by the Diefenbaker government in 1959. The Arrow was one of the most innovative aircraft of its time, establishing Canada as a global leader in aerospace research and development. The shuttering of the program resulted in the loss of at least 25,000 jobs. It was the ultimate brain drain. More than 33 senior Canadian engineers left for NASA and made an indelible mark on the manned space program and lunar landing. Among them was Canada’s Owen Maynard, who oversaw NASA’s Lunar Module Program and played a key role in the design of the module. The move south by Maynard and others was a significant exodus of Canada’s brightest minds and a tough loss for the Canadian aerospace industry. This has since become an unfavourable trend, not just for the aerospace industry, but from our country’s science and engineering ranks more broadly. A recent study suggested that one in four STEM graduates from three leading Canadian universities opted to work outside Canada. Eight in 10 chose the United States. Meanwhile, technology for space exploration has gained momentum and public attention in recent years, providing Canadian companies with the opportunity to reassert themselves as global leaders. As NASA signals its intention to return to the moon and sends new vehicles to Mars, companies on our home soil are innovating and delivering key technologies for space exploration, sensing, and communication. There is great potential to bolster Canadian STEM development and build the foundation for a competitive future in aerospace. One company, Calian Advanced Technologies (previously SED Systems) has been delivering world-class solutions for defence, deep space exploration, satellite operations,and telecommunications for more than 50 years. Our company’s engineers and technicians work with the Canadian Space Agency’s mission control centre in St. Hubert, Que., to support the satellite fleet and help prepare for future missions. Sustaining national competitiveness relies on innovation and bringing the right solutions to market. Government support can help accelerate innovation and commercialization of space and satellite communications. Canada’s space companies are already providing solutions here on Canadian soil and are generating export sales from foreign clients. Additionally, strengthening the industrial base for the emerging space economy and building resilience in the domestic supply chain is essential to maximizing Canada’s competitiveness in the global space economy. For example, Telesat LightSpeed is developing low Earth orbit satellites that will provide high-speed broadband internet to many remote, rural, and First Nations communities. These satellites will improve internet connectivity speeds, giving these communities greater prospects of job advancement, education, access to health care, and better connectivity for tourism operators. Canada has a chance to secure its future as a leader in the highly competitive global market. The country can deliver an all-Canadian solution to support the Telesat LEO program, increasing accessibility for its underserved communities all while creating and sustaining local jobs. Following the 2021 federal budget, the Aerospace Industries Association of Canada acknowledged the government’s support of the sector as part of the post-pandemic recovery. This includes capitalizing on space-based Earth observation satellites, upgrading aging ground infrastructure, and supporting the Canadian Space Agency’s next generation of Earth observation satellites. While these investments signal a step in the right direction, industry needs to work closely with the government to ensure alignment on priorities and a sector-specific strategy. Aerospace is part of Canada’s history. Its long-term sustainability will ensure the diversity of our economy and help engineer our social, cultural, and economic fabric. Patrick Thera is president of Calian, Advanced Technologies, formerly known as SED. The Hill Times

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Support for Canada’s space industry marks one giant leap towards recovery

As NASA signals its intention to return to the moon and sends new vehicles to Mars, companies on our home soil are innovating and delivering key technologies for space exploration, sensing, and communication.

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