[LINK] "Is Canadian Sovereignty at Risk by a Lack of an Indigenous Satellite Launch Capability?"

[rfmcdonald]

Does Canada need its own space-launch capability? Thanks to dewline for pointing me to Marc Boucher's answer to this interesting, and important, question.

Canada has no indigenously satellite launch capability and until the last decade it wasn't even an issue people within the industry contemplated too seriously. However global security events such as 9/11, arctic sovereignty, earth observation needs have all increased Canada's need and reliance on satellites. So does Canada need an indigenous satellite launch capability? It's a question worth exploring as we consider whether Canadian sovereignty is at risk by not having our own launch capability.

[. . .]

Every single country that has built their own launch capability always done it first and foremost for security needs. Russia, the United States, China, Japan, the European Union through France, India, and Israel all have the capability to launch a satellite into orbit while South Korea, North Korea, Iran and Brazil have launcher programs underway.

[. . .]

Any foreign country will put its interests ahead of what Canada wants. Case in point is the launching of a satellite that could be considered a threat to the national interests of the country who would be launching the satellite. If the foreign country determined that it could not be in its best interest to launch the satellite, it could just say no. And this in fact has already happened to Canada. Radarsat-2 was launched in December of 2007 after being delayed six years because Canada had to find another launch provider, ultimately the Russians, as the U.S. backed out of launching the satellite. This also forced Canada to find another satellite bus provider. These two changes proved to be costly as they added an additional $191.1 million to the total mission cost of $528.8 million.

[. . .]

With 10 launches pending in the next five years and more likely in the future it would seem there's an economic benefit to having these launches take place in Canada as well. After all, each satellite launch comes with a launch cost, which right now is spent in foreign countries. Those Canadian tax dollars could be spent at home which would also create new jobs and foster the growth of the domestic industry. An industry that would also benefit the scientific community. With more opportunities for space science, Canadian universities and research centres could be able to contribute more to our scientific knowledge base which in turn would help other related industries.

Go, read.