NordSpace has expanded its footprint with a new Ottawa office dedicated to policy, regulatory compliance, and government relations. The office marks the company’s fourth domestic site as the space manufacturer works toward initiating orbital launches.
To lead the Ottawa operation, NordSpace hired Elsa Henchiri as vice-president of policy and government relations. Henchiri transitions to the private sector after 25 years of federal service. Her resume includes senior analyst positions at the Department of National Defence and executive roles at Transport Canada, where she most recently served as director of safety policy and intelligence.
During her public sector tenure, Henchiri led the development of Canada’s commercial space launch safety and security program from its inception. She was part of a small group of officials who authored the regulatory framework underpinning the Canadian Space Launch Act.
“I helped write the regulatory framework for this industry. Now I want to help build it,” Henchiri said in a statement. “Sovereign launch capability is critical for Canada, and NordSpace is making that possible.”
Securing an executive who intimately understands the federal regulatory apparatus provides NordSpace with a distinct strategic advantage. Her inside knowledge of the system is expected to help the company navigate the complex, multi-departmental licensing processes required for orbital flight.
The Ottawa office will manage these interactions with federal and provincial entities. This workload includes coordinating airspace and range management with NAV Canada and navigating spectrum licensing with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada. Henchiri will also oversee engagement with defence initiatives like the NATO STARLIFT program and the Defence Industrial Strategy.
NordSpace currently operates a manufacturing headquarters in Markham, Ontario. The company tests rocket engines at a 50-acre facility in Eastern Ontario and is building the Atlantic Spaceport Complex in St. Lawrence, Newfoundland and Labrador.
Before attempting orbital flights, the company plans to launch a suborbital pathfinder launch vehicle named Taiga from its Newfoundland spaceport. These test flights serve a dual purpose. They will validate hardware systems for the larger orbital vehicles while providing a practical test of the regulatory and public safety frameworks Henchiri helped design.
The Ottawa location aims to streamline the licensing and public safety approvals required for those initial flights. Over time, NordSpace plans to utilize the Ottawa office for research and development, tapping into the regional aerospace and defence talent pool.