On July 7, 2026, German space startup Isar Aerospace announced that it has closed a deal with Canada-based spaceport operator Maritime Launch Services to develop a dedicated space launch complex within the Spaceport Nova Scotia.
The dual-use launch facility, which is located near the town of Canso, in the Canadian Atlantic province of Nova Scotia, will become the launchpad for Isar’s Spectrum rocket. The two companies signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) in May 2026.
So far, Munich-based Isar Aerospace had been using Andøya Spaceport, in northern Norway, as a launch platform, including for the maiden flight, which detonated in the air after a 25-second lift-off. Isar Aerospace is also reported to be considering Europe’s Spaceport, in Kourou, French Guiana, as a potential launchpad for missions carrying LEO satellites.
Besides its seashore location, one of the strong selling points of the Canadian launch site is that it offers good access to mid to high Polar orbits which are considered optimal for many types of missions, from Earth observation and telecommunications to surveillance.
Spectrum is a two-stage orbital small-lift launch vehicle designed to put into orbit small and medium-sized satellites.
The agreement has special relevance as both Germany (and by extension, the European Union) and Canada have expressed their aim to develop independent space-related capabilities, as the relationship with their traditional partner, the United States, has frayed during the Trump Presidency.
Work on Isar’s complex in Nova Scotia will begin later in 2026, with the first launches from the site expected to take place in 2028. The contract is for a 10-year term, which can be prolonged for two additional five-year periods.
Isar Aerospace expects to ramp up operations at the site over time, potentially reaching up to 40 annual launches.
The facilities usage agreement has a 10-year term with the right for Isar Aerospace to renew for two additional five-year terms.
The cost to Isar Aerospace for using the Canadian facility will amount to US$3.75 million per quarter, although the Bavarian company will enjoy a 30-month free waiver after the first year of the contract. Regular payments will resume once this waiver period is over.