Ontario Construction News staff writer
Canada Rocket Company is setting up a $30-million rocket testing center at London International Airport, a project that is expected to generate at least 40 jobs within the next 18 months.
The Toronto-based firm celebrated the launch of the Jeremy Hansen Rocket Test Facility on Oct. 1 with Invest Ontario. This 12,000-square-foot center will be used to test and validate rocket technologies created and developed in Ontario.
The company is working on a reusable medium-lift launch vehicle. This facility will enable it to test essential rocket systems and enhance their design, safety, and performance.
“This $30-million facility will provide the infrastructure needed to test and validate critical rocket systems and will create at least 40 new highly skilled jobs over the next 18 months,” Rob Flack said in a statement.
Hugh Kolias, CEO and co-founder of Canada Rocket Company, mentioned that this facility will aid the company in transforming its engineering designs into functional hardware.
“Canada’s path to its own access to space starts on the ground, in facilities like this one,” Kolias said.
This facility is projected to support a broader vehicle development program estimated to produce about 1,000 jobs and attract over $1 billion in additional investment over the next decade.
Invest Ontario assisted with this project by providing site selection and permitting help, connecting with strategic partners, and engaging local stakeholders along with post-secondary institutions through collaboration with the London Economic Development Corporation.
CRC is also forming training and workforce partnerships with Western University and Fanshawe College to prepare workers for roles in the aerospace industry.
The facility is named after Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen. The initiative builds upon Ontario’s aerospace and manufacturing strengths, backed by more than 94,000 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics graduates each year as well as Canada’s largest defense sector by employment according to Invest Ontario.
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