- Many of the advances that Canadians take for granted have come from space research and technology. For example, air conditioning, MRIs, advances in smoke detectors, memory foam and microwave ovens all were developed or advanced by space research.
- Leads to better telecommunications and Internet, connecting Canadians, including those in rural and remote communities, to each other and to the world.
- Allows us to keep an eye on our weather, oceans, forests, wetlands and farmlands from space, providing early warning of natural disasters and providing data to help monitor the effects of climate change.
- Enables us to monitor our borders, maritime approaches and Arctic, so Canada can be defended and its sovereignty protected.
- Space research has advanced medical science including vaccines and osteoporosis treatment. Canada’s own Canadarm space robotics have been adapted to perform previously impossible brain surgeries.
- Space now touches the lives of Canadians 20 to 30 times a day — from weather predictions, to using an ATM, to checking a map on a smartphone, to downloading movies, to ground and air traffic management. Tomorrow’s advances — autonomous cars, smart cities, advanced autonomous AI and robotics – will be propelled by space science and technology.
- Unlike other countries that have been increasing their investments in space, Canada has faced declining investment for many years.
- According to the latest figures, whereas in 1992, Canada was 4th in spending as a share of GDP among G7 countries, by 2016 Canada was last, tied with the United Kingdom (the UK will not remain at the bottom of the ranking, it has recently turned around years of neglect with a strong reinvestment in its space program).
- If we look at investment across all spacefaring countries, in 1992, Canada was ranked 8th in spending as a share of GDP; by 2016 we had fallen to 18th, behind Luxembourg, the USA, France, Belgium, Germany, Russia, Switzerland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Austria, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Australia. Looking forward, that downward trend is projected to accelerate, based on known plans and Government spending.
- Canadians support the idea of investing in space!
- A major Ipsos survey conducted this summer found that roughly eight in 10 Canadians think the federal government should be supporting the development of the space sector; that if they heard the amount Canada is investing in space robotics was increasing they would think this is a good decision; and that success in space contributes a great deal to knowledge, innovation, and the competitiveness of Canada.
- An even greater proportion agree (91%, including 52% who strongly agree) that maintaining leadership in space robotics, like the Canadarm, is important for Canada.
- The Lunar Gateway is one of the most immediate and significant opportunities for Canada to “recommit to space..
- Today, in parallel to the expansion of the new economy in Low Earth Orbit, the international community has now confirmed that government space agency explorations will move into “deep space.”
- The first element of this deep space exploration will be the creation of Lunar Orbiting Platform – Gateway, often called the “Deep Space Gateway” or “Gateway”.
- This will be a new space station that will orbit the Moon, extending our engagement into Deep Space. Our current space station is 400km from Earth. This new space station will be 400,000 km from Earth. It will also be a base for lunar surface exploration, a science laboratory, a communications hub and a staging platform to explore deeper space.
- Accompanying this station will be new lunar habitation modules, where astronauts will live on the Moon surface and explore using new lunar rovers and other new scientific instruments.
- This is all planned to happen over the next 5 to 10 years, to be followed by the first human mission to Mars launching 12 to 15 years from now.
Including a commitment to participate in the Gateway as part of the upcoming space strategy would signal to the world that Canada plans to claim its place in the new space economy.
- The final frontier is opening up and countries and companies are jostling for position. The stakes are high!
- The new space economy involves a rapid expansion of Earth observation and communication satellites over the next 10 to 20 years to serve the endless array of new applications being developed every day that will depend on satellite imagery, remote sensing or global positioning data to improve quality of life or security.
- Over 140 space companies have been founded and funded since 2000, with over 100 next start up ideas being studied globally each month.
- In 2015, venture capital firms invested almost $2B in commercial space start-ups, which is double the amount of venture cash invested in the space industry in all of the previous 15 years combined.
- Recently, Morgan Stanley released a forecast that indicates that the Global Space Industry will be a $1.1+ trillion industry by 2040.
- The future of some of even the most traditional of industries will be in space. Look at mining, in which Canada is a leader here on Earth. Just one asteroid, the size of a football field, is estimated to have between $25 billion and $50 billion worth of rare and precious metals. NASA estimates that the total value of the 18,000 asteroids that are currently in the vicinity of Earth could be up to $700 quintillion. Space mining missions will start as early as 2020. Tiny Luxemburg plans to be the world leader in space mining.

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#DONTLET GO CANADA
Canada has world-leading expertise in satellite telecommunications, Earth observation, space robotics and sensors, optics and vision systems, and space science instruments and research.
Feeding these areas of specialization are capabilities such as advanced manufacturing of space hardware, including the design and construction of satellites and spacecraft subsystems, components, materials, and equipment; the design, construction and operations of complex satellite data processing systems; space and satellite operations and services and related applications and analytics; as well as space systems design and integration.
Canada’s space industry has consistently been the most export-oriented space sector in the world, wisely leveraging strategic government space investments into commercial business opportunities.
Canada’s space ecosystem is further fueled by internationally recognized expertise in space science, astronomy, research, engineering and space law at post-secondary institutions across the country.
Canada’s space sector includes some of our most innovative companies, universities and research institutions and employs our brightest minds, creating…
- $5.5 billion (revenue)
- 10,000 direct jobs — 41% with university degrees
- 22,000 indirect jobs
- $2.3 billion (contribution to GDP)
The campaign was initiated by the Aerospace Industries Association of Canada and MDA, Canada’s largest space company. Now more than 60 companies, associations and academic organizations from Canada’s space sector have joined the coalition to keep Canada in space. They are supporting the movement in different ways, including funding, government relations, communications, public relations, social media, speaking engagements, public events and advertising.
- Because, after years of inaction by previous governments, if Canada does not take action soon, we will be letting go of…
- Our country’s position as a leader in satellite communications, Earth observation, space robotics, space science, optics and sensors;
- our 60-year legacy in space;
- our vibrant and innovative space sector with its important economic and scientific contributions and employment for some of our brightest young engineers, scientists and mathematicians;
- the beloved Canadarm program (92% of Canadians say “when I think about or see the Canadarm, I feel proud”); and
- the exciting opportunities of the new space economy. The global space market is worth over USD $380B today; analysts forecast it will grow to be a multi-trillion-dollar market in coming decades.
- Because when it comes to space, Governments have to lead.
- Because if we let go of our space sector, it won’t be coming back.
- Because it’s time for bold vision and wise choices.
WHAT IF I
HAVE MORE
QUESTIONS?
Good question. That’s exactly what this FAQ is for! If you have questions about Canada’s role in space, would like to help, or are curious about the who and why of this campaign, please enter your information below, and we will do our best to get you an answer.