Canada will receive its first large-scale ground facility dedicated to comprehensive rocket engine testing. Private enterprise Canada Rocket Company (CRC) will invest approximately $30 million to build a modern testing center at the London International Airport in the province of Ontario. The new facility will span about 50 acres and will be capable of conducting static fire tests on powerful engines with thrust exceeding 1 Meganewton, comparable to the first-stage engines of the widely known Falcon 9 rocket.
Infrastructure and Development Plans for the Complex
The future testing center will be officially named the Jeremy Hansen Test Facility. This name was chosen in honor of renowned Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, who made history as the first Canadian to fly around the Moon as part of the Artemis II mission. Up to three specialized vertical and horizontal test stands will be located on the site. Additionally, the project includes the construction of a large manufacturing and engineering building covering about 1,100 square meters for engine assembly, test preparation, and engineering operations.
Technological Goals of Canada Rocket Company
Establishing such extensive infrastructure is vital for CRC, which was founded in 2025 and is currently developing its own medium-class reusable launch vehicle. This vehicle will be powered by a modern methane-and-liquid-oxygen engine and will be capable of delivering up to 12,500 kilograms of payload into a sun-synchronous orbit. Importantly, the testing complex itself is not intended for space launches; its primary mission is to mature each engine design from an engineering concept into a flight-proven article through rigorous fire testing.
Significance of the Project for Canada's Space Program
Currently, Canada remains the sole G7 nation lacking its own sovereign orbital launch capabilities, forcing it to rely on foreign launch vehicles, primarily American ones. CRC aims to change this landscape and plans to conduct the maiden flight of its rocket in 2032. According to CEO and co-founder Hugh Kolias, the journey from startup inception to the first launch will take about seven years and require over $600 million in total funding.
