Maritime Launch Services

[Steven Pietrobon]

I couldn't find a thread on this company, so I'm starting one here. This company plans to launch orbital rockets from Spaceport Nova Scotia. They recently signed an MOU with a "prominent international launch vehicle operator" with first launch planned for 2026. The launch site is at about 45° N. Going by their press releases, they've been around since 2019.

https://www.maritimelaunch.com/news/maritime-launch-services-signs-memorandum-understanding-leading-launch-vehicle-developer

Halifax, Nova Scotia, August 13, 2024 – Maritime Launch Services Inc. (Cboe CA: MAXQ, OTCQB: MAXQF) and a prominent international launch vehicle operator have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to facilitate the launch of a small-class orbital vehicle from Spaceport Nova Scotia.

This strategic agreement marks a significant milestone for Canada’s participation in international space collaboration and aims to boost the capabilities of Spaceport Nova Scotia as a leading global launch site. Canada and the USA have also recently announced the conclusion of negotiations on a Technology Safeguards Agreement (TSA) between both countries, which paves the way for a thriving space industry launching from Spaceport Nova Scotia.

Maritime Launch is planning a first orbital launch from Spaceport Nova Scotia in 2026.

Under the terms of the MOU, Maritime Launch Services, as the spaceport operator, will provide the necessary launch site infrastructure and regulatory support, while the launch operator will be responsible for the launch vehicle and specialty support equipment.

This MOU follows the Letter of Intent that was signed by both parties in 2023 and serves as a basis for the definitive and binding launch service agreement. Both parties are committed to working closely to ensure the successful implementation of the agreement to foster the growth of the global space industry.

Maritime Launch will host its first two small launch vehicle clients at Spaceport Nova Scotia for the current construction phase and will integrate the launch provider’s vehicles and support equipment into the operational framework of Spaceport Nova Scotia.

Key Elements of the Agreement:

    Pathfinder Launch: The initial steps will involve both parties working together to execute the first orbital launch from Spaceport Nova Scotia.
    Commercial Operations: Following the successful pathfinder mission, the multi-year, multi-launch operations will quickly ramp up under the commercial site lease model.
    Infrastructure and Safety: Maritime Launch will be responsible for public safety, launch-related mission support, and coordinating with various federal authorities for restricted airspace and waterways. The mobile launch vehicle capability will enable the use of temporary or mobile site infrastructure for initial launches.

Stephen Matier, President and CEO of Maritime Launch Services, stated, “This partnership is a significant step forward for Spaceport Nova Scotia. It not only highlights our commitment to welcoming international space companies to Canada but also secures a leading launch vehicle for orbital missions from Spaceport Nova Scotia,” Matier added “This partnership will also demonstrate our capabilities as a launch site, capable of accommodating diverse launch systems for our client needs. The partnership allows us to deliver launch capability towards the current pent-up demand from the satellite client marketplace.”

As the MOU guidelines are executed by both parties in the coming months, Maritime Launch will announce further details regarding this international partnership.

[PM3]

There are two related threads:

Ukrainian Cyclone 4M Launch Operations will be Established in North America

Commercial space launches in Canada? Minister to make ‘important’ announcement

Meanwhile, Maritime Launch announced some tentative plan to have Reaction Dynamics launch their "Aurora" microlauncher from Canso in 2026. Last mention of Cyclone-4M was this announcement from 2023, giving a 2025 launch date.

[AndrewM]

Not a financial expert but seems like an attempt to get a bit more funding.

Maritime Launch Services Inc. (Cboe CA: MAXQ, OTCQB: MAXQF) (the “Company”). This press release is being disseminated as required by National Instrument 62-103 - The Early Warning System and Related Take-Over Bids and Insider Reporting Issuers ("NI 62-103") in connection with the filing of early warning reports by each of Stephen Matier and Sasha Jacob as a result of their transfer of common shares of the Company (“common shares”) to certain arm’s-length third-parties.

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241219209889/en/Maritime-Launch-Services-Inc.-Issues-Early-Warning-Report-Filing-Pursuant-to-National-Instrument-62-103 [Dec 19]

[CansoJim]

There was no construction on MLS' spaceport site the entirety of 2024.

Their suborbital launch was a 5-foot rocket launched by a university rocket club. It did not go as planned. The rocket went off course and was not recovered.

MLS received a $120'000 loan to develop a small parcel of land on a separate property owned by Maritime Launch for Leaf Space. This has nothing to do with the spaceport project. Maritime Launch has entered into a lease agreement with them.

Maritime Launch plans to launch rockets 3km from the community of Canso. After five and a half years they have not completed their required environmental conditions. They are broke and millions of dollars in debt. There is overwhelming local opposition to this project. Their unlicensed spaceport consists of a couple of gravel roads, a small concrete slab, and a 20-foot sea-can.

Canada does not have regulations for orbital launches and is years away from developing them.

Maritime Launch Services now has some competition. NordSpace, a Canadian company, is also developing a commercial spaceport.

Please see the attached picture of Spaceport Nova Scotia. Those are PVC pipes sticking out of the concrete slab.

[yg1968]

A couple of videos with some updates (the first one is from 3 months ago; the others are a bit older):

[TrevorMonty]

Reaction Dynamics.
Not  Maritime Launches Services but another Canadian LV company. I'll leave it up to a Canadian to start & manage new thread for them.

https://spacenews.com/reaction-dynamics-prepares-for-takeoff/
Suborbital in next year.
200kg to LEO 2027-28.
Uses hybrid engines.

[catdlr]

NordSpace and ProtoSpace

Can Canada get itself to orbit? These two companies are trying to make it happen

Jul 8, 2025
Canada's NordSpace and ProtoSpace are driving the country's innovative space industry with the goal of achieving the first orbital rocket launch from Canadian soil. NordSpace CEO Rahul Goel and ProtoSpace Chairman Doug Milbourn speak with Space.com.

https://www.youtube.com/@NordSpace-CA
https://www.youtube.com/@utsprotospace