Russian sanctions have killed Canadian satellite launch

The Conservative government’s hard line on sanctions against Russia has scuttled the launch of a key Canadian military satellite that was to be put into orbit by a Russian rocket.

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Officials with the Canadian Space Agency and the spacecraft’s builder, Com Dev, are now trying to find another country or private company willing to send the surveillance satellite into space.

The move to cancel the June 19 launch of the satellite comes as the Canadian government continues with sanctions against Russia over the situation in Ukraine.

Canada has imposed economic penalties on a number of Russian companies and individuals and cancelled a planned military exercise with the Russian air force. It also expelled an attaché from the embassy in Ottawa.

On Tuesday, Russia expelled a Canadian diplomat in Moscow, labelling him a spy.

Com Dev issued a statement Thursday night that it would not proceed with the launch of the spacecraft known as M3MSat.

“Recognizing the current events in the Ukraine, we had been engaged in discussions with the Government of Canada with respect to a potential delay of the launch of M3M, and plans to mitigate the impact of any delay,” said Mike Pley, chief executive officer of Com Dev. “We are confident that the mitigations will be in place prior to the originally planned M3M in-service date of September 2014.”

Canadian Space Agency spokeswoman Maya-Olivia Eyssen said the satellite was to have been launched from Russia’s facilities in Kazakhstan. “The Government of Canada is working with Com Dev to find an appropriate launch solution,” she noted.

M3MSat will provide maritime surveillance and work in conjunction with another Canadian spacecraft, Radarsat-2.

The Department of National Defence’s science agency is supporting M3MSat, with help from the CSA. The spacecraft is outfitted with sophisticated technology to allow it to track digital signals transmitted by ships.

That would make it possible to identify and record marine traffic, know vessels’ direction and cruising speed and ensure that they navigate legally and safely in Canadian waters, according to the DND and the space agency.

The launch of another two smaller Canadian satellites to be sent aloft on the same rocket have also been scuttled. There are no details on how those spacecraft will be put in orbit.

In its statement, Com Dev noted it was the Canadian government that decided not to proceed with the planned launch.

DND declined to comment, referring all questions to the CSA.

Russia has indicated it is more than willing to launch the Canadian satellites, say sources.

The Canadian government’s sanctions against Russia could put Canada’s space industry in a bind as there are a limited number of nations and private companies capable of launching satellites.

Walt Natynczyk, the head of the Canadian Space Agency, said in mid-April that sanctions against Russia would not affect operations on the International Space Station. Canada would continue to work with Russia and the other nations involved in the station, he added.

Co-operation on other space projects, however, will be decided on a case-by-case basis, the former general noted.

Com Dev built and tested the spacecraft at its facilities in Cambridge, Ont., and Ottawa.

It is unclear whether the Canadian government will cover any extra costs that might be incurred in finding a country or firm willing to launch the spacecraft at such short notice.

“Com Dev has received an indication that the Canadian Space Agency will support Com Dev’s efforts to secure a new launch,” the company statement added.

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