Brief
Canada pushes medium‑lift rocket program as US ties strain
The company behind Canada’s first private launch effort shifts to a larger rocket to meet a 2032 target.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Canada’s emerging launch company is abandoning its light‑lift plans and developing the R‑2, a medium‑lift vehicle that could lift 12.5 metric tons to low‑Earth orbit, according to Ars Technica. The nine‑engine, methane‑fuelled rocket, which resembles SpaceX’s Falcon 9, is slated for a possible first flight by 2032.
Founder and CEO Kolias said the shift was driven by a “hard hit” to the light‑lift concept and by a broader Canadian mood that favours sovereign capabilities. He linked the move to Canada’s newly announced Defence Industrial Strategy, which lists space launch as one of ten priority capabilities.
Kolias added that the R‑2’s design includes landing legs, hinting at future first‑stage reuse, and that the program reflects a desire to own Canada’s own space destiny.
Key facts
- The R‑2 rocket is designed to carry up to 12.5 metric tons to low‑Earth orbit. (arstechnica.com)
- The vehicle uses nine methane‑fueled engines and a gas‑generator cycle. (arstechnica.com)
- The company aims for a maiden launch of the R‑2 by 2032. (arstechnica.com)
- Canada’s Defence Industrial Strategy now lists space launch as a priority capability. (arstechnica.com)
- Founder Kolias said the shift away from light‑lift was caused by technical and geopolitical pressures. (arstechnica.com)
Sources
- [1] arstechnica.com — originally reported as “As US relations fray, Canada gets serious about its own launch industry”
