Columns

Over the past few years the space industry has been undergoing a disruptive change.  This has been, and is, an interesting experience for those of us who have worked in the industry for some time. Because there is (or was) a funny paradox about the space business that while what we did in space was constantly changing and presenting new challenges and opportunities, how we did those things had …

Last week, while public attention was focused on talk of electoral colleges and presidential aspirations, President Trump and Vice President Pence quietly tabled what may be their most revolutionary document with little fanfare, the 2020 National Space Policy. This page is for subscribers only. Already a subscriber? Log in. Fact-driven space news, columns, business, policy, technology and more. Support independent journalism. SUBSCRIBE TODAY

In 2019 the Canadian space community was energized by the Government of Canada’s successful launch of the RADARSAT Constellation Mission; three satellites designed that among other things are able to help Canadians study dramatically changing climate – and such events as the breakup of massive ice sheets that have been present for thousands of years.

Fans of the late Stuart MacLean will recognize the title as an inside joke about the Vinyl Café. But the title also speaks to another insider group. The policy wonks amongst you will also immediately recognize this topic of conversation. Some of you may be able to anticipate much of the discussion that follows. Those of you fortunate to live outside the federal government industrial …

Anyone who has been working in or following the space business over the last decade is familiar with the dichotomy that has grown up between “new” or entrepreneurial space ventures and traditional space programs. Often these sectors seem to be a model of the classic two solitudes, existing side by side but embodying two different world views and without a lot of (constructive) interaction. But …

Barely a month has passed since my first column on SpaceQ and already my best laid plans to use this column to push for a place for space in governmental budgets has come undone. This page is for subscribers only. Already a subscriber? Log in. Fact-driven space news, columns, business, policy, technology and more. Support independent journalism. SUBSCRIBE TODAY

On the eve of 2020, followers of the Canadian space industry were greeted with exciting news. Northern Private Capital, a Toronto-based investment consortium, had reclaimed a national asset by buying MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates (MDA) for an eye-popping $1 billion.

As some of you may know I recently started a podcast called Terranauts. I like to say that the purpose of the podcast is tell stories about people who work in space without ever leaving the ground. Hence the name.