July 16, 2026

Most Canadians believe Canada should be able to launch satellites from Canadian soil.

A new national survey conducted by Abacus Data for Maritime Launch Services finds that 68% of Canadians agree Canada can and should have the ability to launch satellites from Canadian soil. Even more, 70%, agree that developing Canadian launch infrastructure strengthens Canada’s economic and national security interests. In Atlantic Canada, support is even higher, with 75% agreeing Canada should have launch capability from Canadian soil.

The findings come at a moment when space has become more visible and emotionally resonant for Canadians. The recent Artemis II mission, with Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen as a key member of the crew, created a burst of space joy across the country. It reminded Canadians that space is not only something happening far away. It is something Canada can be part of, contribute to, take pride in, and benefit from economically.

Two-thirds of Canadians followed the recent Artemis II space mission at least somewhat closely. When Canadians were told that Hansen was the first Canadian to travel around the Moon, 43% said it made them feel proud to be Canadian, 33% said it made them excited about Canada’s role in space, and 25% said it made them more supportive of Canada investing in space infrastructure.

But the survey also points to a gap between pride and capability.

Most Canadians do not know that Canada cannot currently launch satellites, rockets, or small spacecraft from its own soil. Once that gap is explained, Canadians are broadly supportive of building sovereign launch capacity here at home.

In short, Canadians are not only proud of Canada’s role in space. They want Canada to be more capable in space.

A national survey of 2,366 Canadian adults, conducted by Abacus Data from June 25 to July 2, 2026, finds broad public support for Canada developing sovereign launch capabilities.

Here are the full results.

Most Canadians Don’t Know Canada Can’t Currently Launch from Canadian Soil

One of the most important findings in this research is also one of the simplest: most Canadians do not know Canada cannot currently launch satellites, rockets, or small spacecraft from its own soil.

Only 26% of Canadians knew this before taking the survey. Almost two-thirds, 64%, did not know, while another 10% were unsure.

This is a meaningful knowledge gap. Canada has a space agency, world-class researchers, major aerospace and defence interests, and a long history of participating in international space missions. But when it comes to launching satellites, rockets, or small spacecraft from our own soil, Canada does not currently have that capacity.

Once this is explained, Canadians begin to see the issue less as a niche space-sector concern and more as part of a larger conversation about national capability.

Canadians See Space as Connected to Security, Sovereignty, and Growth

Before asking about Spaceport Nova Scotia, the survey asked Canadians how important it is for Canada to pursue several goals related to space, infrastructure, and competitiveness.

The results show that Canadians already see space through a broader national interest lens.

Eight in ten Canadians say it is important for Canada to build infrastructure that supports the country’s security and sovereignty. Seven in ten say it is important for Canada to take part in international space missions and partnerships. More than six in ten say it is important for Canada to use space as a source of jobs and economic growth.

This is not only enthusiasm for rockets or exploration. Canadians connect space to practical national priorities: security, sovereignty, economic development, innovation, and Canada’s ability to compete.

This view also crosses political lines. Among current federal voters, 84% of Liberal voters, 78% of Conservative voters, and 86% of NDP voters say it is important for Canada to build infrastructure that supports security and sovereignty. On using space as a source of jobs and economic growth, 69% of Liberal voters, 60% of Conservative voters, and 65% of NDP voters say this is important.

In other words, Canadians do not appear to see space only through the lens of science or exploration. They also see it as part of a broader national agenda.

Awareness of Spaceport Nova Scotia is Low, But the Informed Case is Strong

One project aiming to help close Canada’s launch capability gap is Spaceport Nova Scotia.

Spaceport Nova Scotia is a new space launch facility being developed near Canso, Nova Scotia.

Awareness of Spaceport Nova Scotia is still relatively low nationally. Seventeen percent of Canadians had heard of the new space-launch facility before the survey, while 78% had not. Awareness is higher in Atlantic Canada, where 36% had heard of the project.

But low awareness does not mean low support.

After seeing a description of Spaceport Nova Scotia, two-thirds of Canadians said it is a good way for Canada to build its space and defence capabilities. Almost as many, 65%, said it is a good way for Canada to compete in the global space economy.

Positive views also cross partisan lines. Among current federal voters, 78% of Liberal voters, 62% of Conservative voters, and 69% of NDP voters say Spaceport Nova Scotia is a good way for Canada to build its space and defence capabilities. On helping Canada compete in the global space economy, 76% of Liberal voters, 60% of Conservative voters, and 70% of NDP voters say it is a good way to do that.

Canadians Are Comfortable with the Uses of Spaceport Nova Scotia

The survey also finds that Canadians are broadly comfortable with the kinds of activities that could take place at Spaceport Nova Scotia.

Nearly eight in ten Canadians, 79%, are comfortable with the spaceport supporting Canada’s national defence needs. Another 78% are comfortable with scientific and research missions happening there. About three-quarters are comfortable with the spaceport supporting Canadian companies that need access to space and with satellites being launched into space.

Comfort is even higher in Atlantic Canada. In the region, 82% are comfortable with Spaceport Nova Scotia supporting national defence needs, 81% are comfortable with scientific and research missions, and 76% are comfortable with launching satellites into space.

Six in Ten Canadians Say the Federal Agreement with Maritime Launch is a Good Way to Build Canada’s Capabilities

The survey also tested reaction to the Carney government’s 10-year, $200 million customer agreement with the company developing Spaceport Nova Scotia. Under the agreement, the government will use a dedicated launch pad at the facility.

Respondents were told the launch pad will support the needs of Canada’s Department of National Defence, the Canadian Armed Forces, the wider federal government, and Canada’s international allies and partners.

After seeing this description, 61% of Canadians said the agreement is a good way for Canada to build its space and defence capabilities. Only 9% said it is a bad way to do this.

Support is higher in Atlantic Canada, where 68% think the agreement is a good way to build Canada’s space and defence capabilities. Support is higher in Atlantic Canada, where 68% think the agreement is a good way to build Canada’s space and defence capabilities. Across the region, support is positive in every province: 63% in New Brunswick, 68% in Newfoundland and Labrador, 69% in Nova Scotia, and 76% in Prince Edward Island.

The political results are also notable. Nationally, 78% of Liberal voters, 60% of NDP voters, and 50% of Conservative voters think the agreement is a good way to build Canada’s space and defence capabilities. In Atlantic Canada, support is 78% among Liberal voters, 66% among NDP voters, and 54% among Conservative voters.

The agreement is not without some partisan variation. Support is strongest among Liberal voters, positive among NDP voters, and more divided among Conservative voters. But across each major party group, more voters see the agreement as good than bad.

Canadians Support Sovereign Launch Capability

The clearest evidence of public support comes in the final assessment questions.

After reading about the issue and the project, 70% of Canadians agree that developing Canadian launch infrastructure strengthens Canada’s economic and national security interests. Sixty-eight percent agree Canada can and should have the ability to launch satellites from Canadian soil. Two-thirds agree Canada should invest in sovereign launch capabilities rather than paying other countries, like the United States, for space-launch services. Another 66% agree Canada should have a sovereign launch site available for government, defence, commercial, and scientific missions.

And 63% agree Nova Scotia is the best location in Canada for orbital launch because it provides safe access to a wide range of orbits, mostly over the open ocean, not land.

Atlantic Canadians are even more supportive. Three-quarters agree developing Canadian launch infrastructure strengthens Canada’s economic and national security interests. Another 75% agree Canada can and should have the ability to launch satellites from Canadian soil. Seventy-three percent agree Canada should invest in sovereign launch capabilities rather than paying other countries for space-launch services, and 70% agree Nova Scotia is the best location in Canada for orbital launch.

Put simply, once Canadians understand the gap in Canada’s current launch capabilities and the role Spaceport Nova Scotia could play, most support Canada building the ability to launch from Canadian soil.

The Upshot

The results of this survey point to a clear opening for a bigger national conversation about Canada’s role in space.

The Artemis II mission created a moment of space joy, pride, and curiosity. Many Canadians followed the mission. Many felt proud seeing Jeremy Hansen play a historic role. And many said Canada’s participation made them more excited, more interested, and more supportive of Canada investing in space infrastructure.

But the survey also reveals a gap between pride and capability. Most Canadians do not know Canada cannot currently launch satellites, rockets, or small spacecraft from its own soil.

Once they learn that, and once Spaceport Nova Scotia is explained, support for sovereign launch capability is broad. Canadians are comfortable with the future uses of the facility. They see Spaceport Nova Scotia as a good way to build Canada’s space and defence capabilities and compete in the global space economy. They also see the project as connected to national defence, sovereignty, economic growth, and Canada’s ability to do more for itself.

Just as important, the issue does not appear to carry much political risk. Support is strongest among Liberal voters, but positive views extend across Conservative and NDP voters as well. In Atlantic Canada, where awareness is higher and the economic benefits are more immediate, support is even stronger and the jobs and regional opportunity story is especially resonant.

Canada’s recent space moment made people feel proud. The question now is whether Canada turns that pride into capacity.

Methodology

The survey was conducted with 2,366 Canadian adults from June 25 to July 2, 2026. A random sample of panelists was invited to complete the survey from a set of partner panels based on the PureSpectrum platform. These partners are typically double opt-in survey panels, blended to manage out potential skews in the data from a single source.

The margin of error for a comparable probability-based random sample of 2,366 Canadians is +/- 2.02%, 19 times out of 20.

The data was weighted according to census data to ensure the sample matched Canada’s population. Totals may not add up to 100 due to rounding.

An Atlantic Canada sample boost was also included, bringing the total number of interview cases in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Prince Edward Island to 1,000.

The margin of error for a comparable probability-based random sample of 1,000 Atlantic Canadians is +/- 3.14%, 19 times out of 20.

Maritime Launch Services Ltd. paid for this research.

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