Isar Aerospace and Maritime Launch Services Sign Decade-Long Agreement for Nova Scotia Spaceport

Isar Aerospace, a European launch company headquartered near Munich, Germany, has entered into a 10-year contract with Maritime Launch Services Ltd. to develop a dedicated launch complex for its Spectrum rocket at Spaceport Nova Scotia, near Canso, Canada. This agreement, signed on July 7, 2026, during the NATO Summit Defence Industry Forum in Ankara, Türkiye, was executed by Daniel Metzler, CEO of Isar Aerospace, and Stephen Matier, President and CEO of Maritime Launch Services. The deal builds on a letter of intent signed by both parties in May 2026.

The Spectrum rocket is a two-stage launch vehicle designed by Isar Aerospace to carry small and medium-sized satellites into Earth orbit. The company, which has established its first launch site at Andøya, Norway, has now formed Isar Aerospace Canada Inc. to anchor its North American presence. Isar Aerospace's approach covers the full value chain of launch services, from the design and operation of launch pad infrastructure to the engineering and launch of its in-house-developed vehicles.

Spaceport Nova Scotia is undergoing development as Canada’s first licensed commercial orbital launch site and is intended to serve commercial, civil, and defence clients. The facility’s geographic location on Nova Scotia’s Atlantic coast provides safe over-ocean launch trajectories and access to mid- to high-inclination and polar orbits, which are suitable for Earth observation, communications, and defence missions. The site is being constructed as a multi-user spaceport, with infrastructure designed to support a range of launch providers and customers.

Under the terms of the agreement, Maritime Launch Services will supply Isar Aerospace with a licensed launch site, including the launch pad, assembly, integration and testing (AIT) facilities, a launch operations centre, and payload integration facilities. Isar Aerospace, as a tenant, intends to invest approximately $100 million to make its launch pad ready. Construction of the dedicated complex is scheduled to commence in 2026, with the first orbital launches targeted for 2028. Launch operations are expected to ramp up to a capacity of up to 40 launches annually by 2029, subject to demand and operational readiness.

The facilities usage agreement is structured as a 10-year term, with Isar Aerospace holding the right to renew for two additional five-year terms. Maritime Launch Services will receive quarterly payments of US$3.75 million during the operational phase, following a 30-month fee waiver period that begins at the end of the agreement's first year. Additional per-launch fees, calculated on a cost-plus basis, will also be payable to Maritime Launch Services for certain services. The agreement remains conditional on mutual agreement on a statement of work and key milestones by September 1, 2026, the handover of the designated launch pad to Isar Aerospace by November 1, 2026, and the completion of supporting infrastructure at the spaceport by December 31, 2027.

Isar Aerospace Vice President Mission and Launch Operations Alexandre Dalloneau stated, “While every nation needs data from space, almost no nation has the end-to-end capability to access it independently. This makes launch capacity one of the most consequential bottlenecks in defence and intelligence today, and we are here to close it. Canada is the next step in our roadmap to bring full end-to-end launch capability to sovereign nations – and we are proud to be doing it here in, and together with, Canada.”

Stephen Matier, President and CEO of Maritime Launch Services, remarked, “By combining Isar Aerospace’s launch vehicle, Spectrum, with Spaceport Nova Scotia’s licensed infrastructure, we are creating the conditions for reliable orbital launch services from Canada. As a multi-user spaceport, our role is to provide the infrastructure, regulatory framework, and operational support that enable launch providers to serve commercial, civil, and defence customers from Canadian soil.”

Canada has historically relied on the United States and other foreign partners for the launch of its satellites, lacking an independent capability for space access. The Government of Canada has identified domestic space launch as a strategic priority in its new defence industrial strategy. The 2025 federal budget earmarked $183 million over three years for the establishment of Canadian space launch capabilities. In March 2026, the federal government signed a 10-year, $200-million lease with Maritime Launch Services, enabling Canada to place satellites into orbit without dependence on other countries or foreign corporations. Defence Minister David McGuinty noted at the time that approximately 20 percent of the Canadian economy relies on satellites, including banking and telecommunications systems.

Spaceport Nova Scotia is being developed with four launch pads in its initial phase. According to Matier, three of these pads are already allocated: one to Isar Aerospace, one to the federal government, and another to Montreal-based Reaction Dynamics. Discussions are ongoing with other potential clients for the remaining pad, and development of a fifth pad is being reserved for future needs. The project's strategy is to create a shared launch ecosystem that increases infrastructure utilization and diversifies revenue streams as additional customers are added.

The announcement comes amid increased efforts by NATO and allied governments to reduce reliance on single-point or third-party launch providers and to move toward assured, sovereign access to orbit. In March 2026, Canada also announced its intention to become a full member of NATO Starlift, an initiative aimed at creating a space launch network that allows allies to deploy payloads into space on short notice. Matier described the Isar deal as an example of NATO-allied collaboration in space industry development, highlighting the integration of rockets, spaceports, and satellites across European and North American partners.

Isar Aerospace's expansion into Canada is part of a broader strategy to build sovereign launch infrastructure across Europe and allied nations. The company, founded in 2018, employs over 400 staff across five international locations and is backed by private funding from international investors. Its vertical integration model aims to scale and industrialize launch vehicle production.

The agreement is regarded by both companies as a significant step in advancing Canada’s sovereign space capabilities and providing allied access to space. The facility’s multi-user design is intended to support a mix of commercial, civil, and defence missions for government and private clients, contributing to the long-term value proposition of Spaceport Nova Scotia.

Forward-looking statements within company announcements caution that the agreement's continuation and the realization of anticipated outcomes are subject to various risks, including capital requirements, interest rate and inflationary pressures, geopolitical events, contractor availability, and other industry-specific uncertainties. Both companies emphasize that actual results may differ from those currently anticipated.

As development proceeds, the partnership between Isar Aerospace and Maritime Launch Services is positioned to play a role in shaping Canada’s space sector, potentially enabling the country to achieve independent launch capability and supporting broader allied objectives in space access.