Melissa Quinn is bringing her experience from the UK’s Spaceport Cornwall and Slingshot Aerospace to Spaceport Nova Scotia as Maritime Launch Services prepares for future operations.
Quinn is joining the Maritime Launch team as Vice President, Spaceport Operations. The appointment comes a little over a month since Quinn joined MDA Space as a Senior Director, Corporate Development. Quinn is temporarily moving over to Maritime Launch as a “secondment” from MDA Space.
Quinn’s appointment follows other strategic moves related to MDA Space and Maritime Launch. In early November 2025 MDA Space made a $10 million investment in Maritime Launch. This was followed later that month with the appointment of Ian McLeod to its Board of Directors.
In a news release from Maritime Launch, they state her responsibilities will include leading “the build-out of the spaceport operations team and oversee readiness activities as Spaceport Nova Scotia transitions from development into full operational capability, with a clear focus on safe, licensed, and sustainable orbital launch.”
Stephen Matier, President and CEO of Maritime Launch said of the appointment, “Melissa brings exactly the kind of operational leadership and global experience needed at this stage of our journey. Her track record in delivering licensed spaceport infrastructure, building high-performing teams, and placing the community at the centre of complex launch programs will be instrumental as we prepare for historic orbital missions from Nova Scotia.”
The track record Matier is speaking of includes Quinn’s work as head of Spaceport Cornwall in the UK “where she led the successful delivery of facilities and operations that enabled the UK’s first licensed orbital launch attempt.”
Quinn’s time at Spaceport Cornwall included the successful launch in January 2023 of Virgin Orbit’s Boeing 747 aircraft with the LauncherOne, an air-launched rocket two-stage orbital launch vehicle. Unfortunately for Virgin Orbit after the air-launch the LauncherOne rocket failed to reach orbit.
Melissa Quinn said, “The successful delivery of spaceport facilities is fundamental to achieving a safe and historic launch. At Cornwall, that success was built on rigorous safety standards, meaningful sustainability practices, and genuine community engagement. I am excited to bring those same principles to Spaceport Nova Scotia and to help position this orbital launch site as a world-class launch location that benefits Nova Scotia, Canada, and the global space sector.”
Maritime Launch said that Quinn will be based in Nova Scotia “and will work closely with local communities, regulators, and partners as Maritime Launch prepares the spaceport for orbital launch campaigns.”