Canadian rocket startup hopes to fly first suborbital launch from its proposed Newfoundland spaceport in August

Nordspace’s proposed spaceport. Click for original.
Though details remain slim, the Canadian rocket startup Nordspace now says it is targeting an August launch of its hopes to fly first suborbital launch from its proposed spaceport in August.
NordSpace’s Taiga rocket isn’t going to reach orbit when it launches in August, but it’s a big step toward the company’s ultimate goal. Taiga is a small, liquid-fueled, hypersonic launch vehicle capable of carrying just over 110 pounds (50 kilograms) above the Karman Line. This summer’s shakedown cruise will be a low-altitude demonstration of Taiga’s capabilities.
The map to the right indicates the location of the spaceport, near the town of St. Lawrence on the southern coast of the island of Newfoundland.
Whether this launch occurs is very uncertain. For example, a previous report in January 2025 about this launch site suggested that government approvals were still required. It is not known if those approvals have been obtained.
Nordspace is the second company in Canada to propose offering a combined spaceport/rocket service. The other, Maritime Launch Services, first appeared almost a decade ago, but has never gotten off the ground. Nordspace first announced its plans in July 2024, so achieving a first test launch in 2025 will clearly place it ahead of Maritime.
Nordspace’s proposed spaceport. Click for original.
Though details remain slim, the Canadian rocket startup Nordspace now says it is targeting an August launch of its hopes to fly first suborbital launch from its proposed spaceport in August.
NordSpace’s Taiga rocket isn’t going to reach orbit when it launches in August, but it’s a big step toward the company’s ultimate goal. Taiga is a small, liquid-fueled, hypersonic launch vehicle capable of carrying just over 110 pounds (50 kilograms) above the Karman Line. This summer’s shakedown cruise will be a low-altitude demonstration of Taiga’s capabilities.
The map to the right indicates the location of the spaceport, near the town of St. Lawrence on the southern coast of the island of Newfoundland.
Whether this launch occurs is very uncertain. For example, a previous report in January 2025 about this launch site suggested that government approvals were still required. It is not known if those approvals have been obtained.
Nordspace is the second company in Canada to propose offering a combined spaceport/rocket service. The other, Maritime Launch Services, first appeared almost a decade ago, but has never gotten off the ground. Nordspace first announced its plans in July 2024, so achieving a first test launch in 2025 will clearly place it ahead of Maritime.