A Canadian company is a step closer to being able to launch spacecraft after NordSpace completed a successful static-test of its Canadian-built, fully integrated Taiga suborbital rocket on January 6th, 2025.
“The test took place at our private test range, which we call the Canadian Space Research Range in Ontario, where we have multiple propulsion test cells installed,” said Rahul Goel, CEO and Founder of NordSpace Corporation. “The Taiga integrated rocket test was completed flawlessly, and was designed to test the fully integrated rocket system. Our 3D printed Hadfield engine performed perfectly, achieved steady state with perfect cooling as expected, all the rocket’s systems including all our custom fluid control systems and 3D printed pressure vessels operated nominally. It was a highly representative test of what our launch would look like.”
The Taiga is 4.48 m (16 feet) in length, 0.3 m in (1 foot) in diameter with bipropellant fuel that uses kerosene and liquid oxygen. In comparison, the venerable Canadian built Black Brant IX suborbital two-stage solid fuel sounding rocket, the most common variant used today, is 12.20 m (40.0 ft) in length with a diameter of 0.46 m (1 ft 6 in) and carry a payload of 362 kg to 350 km or 136 kg to 550 km.
According to Goel, the suborbital Taiga is the only commercial liquid rocket being developed in Canada. Reaction Dynamics, a competitor to NordSpace, uses a solid and non-toxic fuel. The Taiga is expected to launch later this year, setting the foundation for the company’s Tundra orbital rocket. Both vehicles will be powered by NordSpace’s proprietary in-house designed and 3D printed single-piece Hadfield engine. The regeneratively cooled Hadfield series of engines are meant to allow the Tundra to carry up to 500 kg to low Earth orbit (LEO).
Rahul Goel described NordSpace’s development of Canada’s first domestically built liquid-fueled launch vehicle as being “Immensely significant. Considering our company is just a touch over two years old now, we have gone from clean sheet designs to fully in-house manufactured, tested, integrated, and perfectly functioning systems that are nearly ready for flight,” he told SpaceQ in an exclusive interview. “We are pursuing the most complicated method of propulsion among the most commonly used ones, with liquid propulsion and cryogenics, regenerative cooling, custom in-house made components including all electrical systems, advanced 3D printing, and more.”
Goel added that the fundamentals of the suborbital Taiga’s design, engineering, testing and operations will be transferred directly into their Tundra orbital launch vehicle. The Tundra is expected to be approximately 22.86 m (75.0 ft) in length with a diameter of 1.52 m (5 ft).
As for the value of the January 6, 2025 static test, which saw the fully assembled Taiga strapped to a test pad and held down as its Hadfield engine fired successfully? “This test was nothing short of a breakthrough for our team and Canada’s prospects of developing a sovereign launch capability, especially considering our aggressive timelines,” he said. “Our team also battled very harsh winter conditions for many days and nights on end, a testament to the resilience and sheer grit of our team to do such challenging work in equally challenging environments.”
In addition to the successful test, NordSpace had previously announced it was making a $5 million Phase A investment in Spaceport Canada, a new commercial spaceport being built by the company to support its launch efforts plus those of other launch partners. It will have two launch pads that will support rocket flight inclinations between 45 to 95 degrees. As well, “we announced the inaugural Canadian Space Launch Conference (CSLC) to take place on April 29th, 2025 at the Canada Aviation & Space Museum in Ottawa, Ontario,” said Goel. “The inaugural Canadian Space Launch Conference is the first public forum dedicated to key stakeholders spanning industry, government, academia, not-for-profits, and beyond to plan Canada’s future as a launching nation capable of sovereign access to space.”
All told, NordSpace is preparing for a busy 2025. “We are rapidly preparing for our first launch,” Goel said. “This test was exactly what we needed to see, and we are nearing the completion of the second and more refined version of this vehicle. Outside the rocket itself, a lot of time and energy is being invested in readying our spaceport, Spaceport Canada, which we plan to break ground on very soon as we are rapidly clearing hurdles related to re-zoning, crown lands, and environmental assessments. We are also working closely with Transport Canada and NAV Canada on receiving our launch license and managing airspace. Things are looking good, just a mountain of work to complete, but are getting it done swiftly thanks to our incredible team.”
