21 Space Resources & Exploration companies in Canada
Space Atlas lists 21 organisations in Canada working in space resources & exploration: 8 research institutions, 6 academic institutions, 4 startups, 3 private companies. That is 15% of the 138 space organisations in Canada and 10% of the 211 in this sector worldwide. Most are based in Montreal (5), Toronto (5), Calgary (2).
Research Institution (8)
- Centre de recherche en astrophysique du Québec (CRAQ) · Research Institution · Montreal
FRQNT-funded strategic research cluster bringing together astrophysicists at Quebec universities, including instrument and exoplanet research groups.
- Centre for Research in Earth and Space Science (CRESS), York University · Research Institution · Toronto
Canadian university research centre at York University's Lassonde School — conducts space science and instrument work for planetary and atmospheric space missions.
- Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory (DRAO), NRC Herzberg · Research Institution · Kaleden
National Research Council radio observatory near Penticton — runs radio telescopes and produces the daily F10.7 solar radio flux index used in space weather.
- Dunlap Institute for Astronomy & Astrophysics, University of Toronto · Research Institution · Toronto
University of Toronto institute developing astronomical instrumentation and conducting research in astronomy and astrophysics, with public outreach.
- Observatoire du Mont-Mégantic (OMM) · Research Institution · Notre-Dame-des-Bois
Astronomical observatory on Mont Mégantic operated by Université de Montréal and Université Laval, with a 1.6 m telescope and instrument development.
- Planetary and Space Science Centre (PASSC), University of New Brunswick · Research Institution · Fredericton
University of New Brunswick research centre in Fredericton — planetary geology and impact-crater research, NASA Regional Planetary Image Facility, Mars mission work.
- Trottier Institute for Research on Exoplanets (iREx), Université de Montréal · Research Institution · Montreal
Université de Montréal institute for exoplanet research that develops astronomical instruments, including contributions to JWST, and runs outreach.
- Trottier Space Institute at McGill (TSI) · Research Institution · Montreal
McGill University interdisciplinary institute for astrophysics, planetary science and space research, formerly the McGill Space Institute.
Academic Institution (6)
- Astrolith – Lunar Engineering Research Unit, Polytechnique Montréal · Academic Institution · Montreal
Polytechnique Montréal research unit in lunar engineering working on regolith, lunar infrastructure and resources for Moon exploration.
- Auroral Imaging Group (AIG), University of Calgary · Academic Institution · Calgary
University of Calgary space physics group — runs ground-based auroral imaging networks such as TREx and AuroraMAX and contributes to missions including SMILE.
- Institute for Earth and Space Exploration (Western Space), Western University · Academic Institution · London
Western University research institute for Earth and space exploration — successor to its planetary science centre, running research, training and a CubeSat project.
- Institute for Space Science, Exploration and Technology (ISSET), University of Alberta · Academic Institution · Edmonton
University of Alberta interdisciplinary space institute — research in space physics, microgravity science, space instrumentation and planetary science.
- Radio and Space Physics Laboratory (RSPL), University of New Brunswick · Academic Institution · Fredericton
University of New Brunswick space physics lab — operates the CHAIN/SWINCan ionospheric GNSS and HF radar network for space weather research.
- Space & Terrestrial Autonomous Robotic Systems (STARS) Laboratory, University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies · Academic Institution · Toronto
University of Toronto robotics lab — researches autonomous robotic systems for space and terrestrial settings, including lunar rover navigation.
Startup (4)
- Avalon Space · Startup · Toronto
Toronto space infrastructure company — develops mission data tools and lunar exploration services for science and robotic missions.
- Canadian Space Mining Corporation (CSMC) · Startup · Toronto
Canadian space resources startup — dedicated to the exploration and extraction of space-bound resources such as lunar and asteroid materials.
- Mission Control Space Services · Startup · Ottawa
Canadian space software company — develops AI-enabled mission operations and autonomy software for lunar rovers and spacecraft.
- Volta Space Technologies Inc. · Startup · Montreal
Montreal startup developing laser power-beaming infrastructure (LightGrid satellites, LightPort receivers) to power assets on the Moon.
Private Company (3)
- Blue Sky Spectroscopy Inc. · Private Company · Lethbridge
Canadian instrumentation firm in Lethbridge — builds far-infrared Fourier transform spectrometers, cryogenic test systems and software for space astronomy missions.
- Canadensys Aerospace Corporation · Private Company · Bolton
Canadian space company in Bolton, Ontario — prime contractor for Canada's first lunar rover and maker of space cameras and lunar systems.
- Foundation Space Resources (FSR) · Private Company · Calgary
Calgary space-resources company combining terrestrial mining expertise with lunar digital-twin tools to plan resource operations on the Moon and Mars.