NordSpace has announced the creation of the Advanced Manufacturing for Aerospace Lab (AMA Lab) which it says will could reduce the development time by 15-20% for its Hadfield rocket engine.
In announcing the new lab, NordSpace said it had received funding from the Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI) through its Critical Industrial Technologies Initiative, a program designed to support SMEs in their effort to “develop new IP faster and at a greater scale for the benefit of the province and beyond.”
NordSpace said that the AMA Lab will use “AI-driven design models, enabling faster iterations and the discovery of optimal engine operating regimes unattainable through traditional methods.” As well, “In addition to additive manufacturing, the AMA Lab will also be researching and developing novel materials, advanced composites, and robotic manufacturing techniques ranging from large scale Laser Direct Energy Deposition (DED) and Automated Fiber Placement (AFP).”
The OCI investment in NordSpace is for a project titled “Characterization of Additively Manufactured Cooling Channels for AI Numerical Modelling” and was awarded on March 17, 2025. OCI is providing $199,870.81 and NordSpace is investing $249,467.62 for a project total commitment of $449,338.43.
In a news release Claudia Krywiak, President and CEO of the Ontario Centre of Innovation said, “OCI is proud to support NordSpace as they advance Canada’s sovereign space capabilities. The AMA Lab will help accelerate Hadfield engine commercialization, create high-skilled jobs, and strengthen Ontario’s position in advanced space manufacturing.”
More funding coming
Along with the OCI funding, NordSpace told SpaceQ “the total investment in the first phase of our AMA Lab is expected to be approximately $5M.” This will include a yet to be announced award of $1M, perhaps as early as next week.
NordSpace’s expects their orbital-class Hadfield rocket engine to be commercially ready in in 2026 and is hoping to conduct a test launch with the engine before the year is out at their Atlantic Spaceport Complex under development in Newfoundland and Labrador.