The Cape Canaveral launch facility was built by government money, the ESA launch facility at in French Guiana, was built with government money. There are hundreds of launch sites around the world (even Iran has a bunch) so I think it is fine for the Canadian Government to fund this one on the east coast.
I guess there are a few issues with the MLS Spaceport. The company is a startup that is also in the process of developing a new rocket. I guess they must have a reasonably good system as they were selected to receive money as part of the DND rocket development competition. The investors and Governments have funded the rocket development but it is still not flight-ready yet and of course, has no payload.
MLS has a lease on one of the few sites that are appropriate for launching rockets into space and people knowledgeable to operate it. The government has a couple of choices regarding the ability to launch rocket from Canadian soil. There is the Newfoundland spaceport, reviving the Churchill spaceport, there is also a potential spaceport in Northern Quebec on Indigenous territory where a Concordia University sub-orbital rocket was launched last year.
None of these are operated by a well-backed operating concern.
The Government could takeover one of these locations and operate the spaceport directly or through a crown corporation, incentivise a Canadian company already active in aerospace like MDA to operate the spaceport and finally support a new company to enlarge the aerospace industry, support a new entrant and develop a local industry.
These decisions are always a difficult balance of cost-benefit, and risk analysis. It is certain that while the facilities are being built and Canadian launchers are available, there will be little revenue for the spaceport. The alternative options may also end up costing more in the long term.
People who live and work inside the 613 bubble are often chuffed at how Canadians outside the bubble tend to regard Ottawa as the nexus of incompetence, insanity, and indolence. To be fair, many public servants genuinely work hard and productively, and want to ensure taxpayers are served effectively and efficiently. But when stories like the spaceport boondoggle bubble up, the stink gets stuck on everyone.
I went back to the April 28 Hansard on the space launch bill where MPs first put the $47 million losses and $15,000 revenue on the record from the public SEDAR+ filings. They used it to contrast the site (gravel road, sea cans, concrete pad) and negligible commercial activity against the $20 million a year DND commitment, plus noted auditor going-concern warnings and high executive pay. No one walked through the expense categories or explained the specific activities that built up the accumulated loss over the years. The "doing nothing" framing comes straight from that revenue figure and the description of current operations. The June estimates debate the article covers made the same point without adding the missing breakdown.
The Cape Canaveral launch facility was built by government money, the ESA launch facility at in French Guiana, was built with government money. There are hundreds of launch sites around the world (even Iran has a bunch) so I think it is fine for the Canadian Government to fund this one on the east coast.
I guess there are a few issues with the MLS Spaceport. The company is a startup that is also in the process of developing a new rocket. I guess they must have a reasonably good system as they were selected to receive money as part of the DND rocket development competition. The investors and Governments have funded the rocket development but it is still not flight-ready yet and of course, has no payload.
MLS has a lease on one of the few sites that are appropriate for launching rockets into space and people knowledgeable to operate it. The government has a couple of choices regarding the ability to launch rocket from Canadian soil. There is the Newfoundland spaceport, reviving the Churchill spaceport, there is also a potential spaceport in Northern Quebec on Indigenous territory where a Concordia University sub-orbital rocket was launched last year.
None of these are operated by a well-backed operating concern.
The Government could takeover one of these locations and operate the spaceport directly or through a crown corporation, incentivise a Canadian company already active in aerospace like MDA to operate the spaceport and finally support a new company to enlarge the aerospace industry, support a new entrant and develop a local industry.
These decisions are always a difficult balance of cost-benefit, and risk analysis. It is certain that while the facilities are being built and Canadian launchers are available, there will be little revenue for the spaceport. The alternative options may also end up costing more in the long term.
People who live and work inside the 613 bubble are often chuffed at how Canadians outside the bubble tend to regard Ottawa as the nexus of incompetence, insanity, and indolence. To be fair, many public servants genuinely work hard and productively, and want to ensure taxpayers are served effectively and efficiently. But when stories like the spaceport boondoggle bubble up, the stink gets stuck on everyone.
Thanks for summarizing the week like this. Very interesting, to say the least!
Was there any details of how they accumulated $47million in losses by doing nothing?
I went back to the April 28 Hansard on the space launch bill where MPs first put the $47 million losses and $15,000 revenue on the record from the public SEDAR+ filings. They used it to contrast the site (gravel road, sea cans, concrete pad) and negligible commercial activity against the $20 million a year DND commitment, plus noted auditor going-concern warnings and high executive pay. No one walked through the expense categories or explained the specific activities that built up the accumulated loss over the years. The "doing nothing" framing comes straight from that revenue figure and the description of current operations. The June estimates debate the article covers made the same point without adding the missing breakdown.
Thank you!!