A CAD $30-million facility at London International Airport, named after astronaut Jeremy Hansen, is expected to be fully operational by 2028.

<p><span>Canada is taking steps to develop its domestic rocket technology capabilities through a project to build a large-scale rocket engine test facility in London, Ontario. Backed by a CAD $30 million investment from Canada Rocket Company (CRC), the project will add new technical infrastructure and is expected to support the growth of the aerospace industry while creating more highly skilled jobs in the local community.</span></p><h2><span style="color:hsl(240, 75%, 60%);"><span><strong>Canada Invests CAD $30 Million in Rocket Testing Facility</strong></span></span></h2><div><div><div><p><span>On October 1, 2026, Canada Rocket Company held a groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday for its CAD $30-million rocket engine test facility at London International Airport in southwestern Ontario. The facility will be named after astronaut Jeremy Hansen.</span></p><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:63.64%;"><img style="aspect-ratio:1050/700;" src="https://loa-portal-ap-southeast-1.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/14400/image.png" alt="Groundbreaking Ceremony for Canada Rocket Company’s New Rocket Testing Facility in London, Ontario" width="1050" height="700"><figcaption><span>Groundbreaking Ceremony for Canada Rocket Company’s New Rocket Testing Facility in London, Ontario</span></figcaption></figure><div><div>&nbsp;</div><div><div><p><span>The company is developing a reusable rocket capable of carrying payloads of up to 12,500 kg into sun-synchronous orbit. As Canada’s first large-scale static rocket engine test facility, the site is designed to support the development and validation of domestic rocket technology. Meanwhile, two competitors, NordSpace and Reaction Dynamics, have also established their own testing facilities, although both currently focus primarily on testing smaller rocket engines.</span></p><div><div><div><h2><span style="color:hsl(240, 75%, 60%);"><span><strong>Project Overview</strong></span></span></h2><div><div><div><p><span>The facility will occupy approximately 50 acres (20 hectares) of land leased from the Greater London International Airport Authority, with a 12,000-square-foot (approximately 1,115 m²) office and manufacturing building. The site is expected to accommodate up to three vertical and horizontal static test stands designed to support rocket engines producing more than 1 meganewton (MN) of thrust.</span></p><div><div><div><p><span>It is important to note that this is an engine test facility, not a rocket launch site. The facility will enable Canada Rocket Company to test critical systems before proceeding with the development of reusable launch vehicles.</span></p></div></div></div><div><div><div><p><span>The company is developing a medium-lift reusable rocket aimed at establishing Canada’s domestic satellite launch capabilities. In the long term, its goal is to reduce reliance on foreign launch systems, although achieving this will depend on technological development and the implementation of commercial launch programs.</span></p><div><div><div><h2><span style="color:hsl(240, 75%, 60%);"><span><strong>How Could London Benefit from the Project?</strong></span></span></h2><div><div><div><p><span>According to </span><a href="https://investontario.ca/press-release/canada-rocket-company-establishes-advanced-testing-facility-london-ontario?utm_source=chatgpt.com"><span>Invest Ontario</span></a><span>, the project is expected to create at least 40 highly skilled jobs over the next 18 months. In the longer term, the broader launch vehicle development program is projected to generate approximately 1,000 jobs and attract more than CAD $1 billion in additional investment over the next decade.</span></p><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:68.55%;"><img style="aspect-ratio:1200/800;" src="https://loa-portal-ap-southeast-1.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/14399/image.png" alt="Conceptual design of Canada Rocket Company’s rocket engine testing facility." width="1200" height="800"><figcaption><span>Conceptual design of Canada Rocket Company’s rocket engine testing facility.</span></figcaption></figure><div><div>&nbsp;</div><div><div><p><span>These are projections of the project’s economic impact, not confirmed job openings for specific occupations.</span></p><div><div><div><p><span>The project also adds a new technology segment to London’s existing industrial base. According to the </span><a href="https://www.ledc.com/defence-aerospace?utm_source=chatgpt.com"><span>London Economic Development Corporation (LEDC)</span></a><span>, the region is home to more than 40 companies and over 4,000 workers in the defence and aerospace sectors.</span></p><div><div><div><p><span>The combination of manufacturing capabilities, engineering expertise, and the new testing facility could help London further develop its advanced technology ecosystem while increasing long-term demand for workers with relevant specialized skills.</span></p><div><div><div><h2><span style="color:hsl(240, 75%, 60%);"><span><strong>What Opportunities Are Available for International Students?</strong></span></span></h2><div><div><div><p><span>Canada Rocket Company says it is developing education and workforce partnerships with Western University and Fanshawe College. This is a noteworthy development for students considering engineering programs in London, particularly those related to aerospace, electronics, and manufacturing.</span></p><div><div><div><p><span>One option worth considering is Fanshawe College’s Aviation Technology – Aircraft Maintenance &amp; Avionics (Co-op)</span> <span>program. According to </span><a href="https://www.fanshawec.ca/programs-and-courses/schools/norton-wolf-aerospace-info-dt?utm_source=chatgpt.com"><span>Fanshawe’s program and aviation school page</span></a><span>, students train in a hangar at London International Airport, with access to an 80,000-square-foot practical training facility. The curriculum focuses on aircraft maintenance and avionics systems.</span></p></div></div></div><div><div><div><p><span>However, it is important to distinguish between the aviation industry and rocket technology. Skills in maintenance, electronics, and engineering may be transferable to certain related industrial fields, but this does not mean the program directly trains rocket engineers. Students should review the curriculum, co-op opportunities, and job requirements for specific positions before choosing a program.</span></p><div><div><div><p><span>In addition to the curriculum, students should consider tuition fees, admission requirements, co-op opportunities, and their ability to meet employers’ hiring criteria. The new project provides another reason to monitor the growth of Ontario’s aerospace industry, but it does not guarantee employment opportunities for international students.</span></p><h2><span style="color:hsl(240, 75%, 60%);"><span><strong>Conclusion</strong></span></span></h2><div><div><div><p><span>The Jeremy Hansen Rocket Test Facility marks a new step in Canada’s efforts to develop its domestic rocket technology capabilities. With a CAD $30 million investment, the project will add dedicated testing infrastructure and create new prospects for aerospace industry growth in London, Ontario.</span></p><div><div><div><p><span>For international students, the greatest value at this stage lies in gaining a deeper understanding of the local engineering ecosystem and choosing a suitable educational program. Rather than relying solely on investment figures or projected job growth, students should carefully assess the skills a program develops and actual employer demand before deciding to study abroad.</span></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><meta charset="utf-8"></p><p style="line-height:1.38;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="background-color:transparent;color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:'Be Vietnam Pro',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;"><strong>Read more:</strong></span></span></p><p style="margin-left:40px;"><meta charset="utf-8"></p><ul style="margin-bottom:0;margin-top:0;padding-inline-start:48px;"><li style="background-color:transparent;color:#1155cc;font-family:'Be Vietnam Pro',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;list-style-type:disc;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;" dir="ltr" aria-level="1"><span style="background-color:transparent;color:#1155cc;"><span style="font-family:'Be Vietnam Pro',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;"><strong>Study in Canada 2026: New Policies, PAL/TAL, and Study Permits</strong></span></span></li><li style="background-color:transparent;color:#1155cc;font-family:'Be Vietnam Pro',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;list-style-type:disc;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;" dir="ltr" aria-level="1"><a style="text-decoration:none;" href="https://loaportal.com/en/news/study-aviation-in-canada-2026-admission-requirements-tuition-fees-career-opportunities"><span style="background-color:transparent;color:#1155cc;"><span style="font-family:'Be Vietnam Pro',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;"><strong>Study Aviation in Canada 2026: Admission Requirements, Tuition Fees &amp; Career Opportunities</strong></span></span></a></li></ul></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>

Canada Rocket Company Breaks Ground on Rocket Engine Test Facility in London, Ontario

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Canada Rocket Company Breaks Ground on Rocket Engine Test Facility in London, Ontario

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