NorthStar Secures Support to Advance Canadian Space Domain Awareness Sensor Technology

MONTREAL, QC – September 04, 2026 — NorthStar Earth & Space, (“NorthStar”), a global leader in Space Domain Awareness (SDA), today announced it is receiving advisory services and up to CAD $2 million in funding from the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP) to advance the deployment of next-generation, Canadian space-based sensing technology.

The funding will support the development of modular advanced-aperture technologies designed to make SDA sensors faster, more flexible, and more cost-efficient to deploy. The sensor concept is intended to work with multiple hosting platforms, including telecommunications constellations, by leveraging both existing and emerging space infrastructure.

“Demand is growing for persistent and resilient turnkey SDA services that help protect critical national assets and commercial space systems,” said Stewart Bain, CEO and Founder of NorthStar. “With NRC IRAP support, NorthStar is advancing a modular sensor architecture designed to expand SDA capacity and strengthen Canada’s sovereign and allied space security posture.”

“This project showcases the exceptional talent and innovation driving Canada’s space sector,” said the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions. “Through the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program, Canadian entrepreneurs are advancing next-generation space sensing technology and transforming breakthrough research into commercial solutions. By supporting the development of critical technologies, we are helping ensure Canada continues to develop the critical technologies required to compete and lead in the space economy.”

NorthStar is strongly positioned to deliver novel information services based on advanced aperture technology with an established system-of-systems approach. With extensive end-to-end experience that includes 24/7 allied operational support comprising data generation, fusion, curation, and a comprehensive SDA product suite that enables efficient scanning under the most challenging conditions. By emphasizing modularity, standardized interfaces, and commercially available hardware, the project will also improve deployment speed, and cost efficiency.

Working with Canada’s largest industrial innovation lab, Luqia (formed through the merger of INO and CRIM) as a subcontractor, NorthStar will contribute to the growth of Canada’s space innovation ecosystem by harnessing local expertise in advance payload design, system integration and space-based sensing technologies.

NRC IRAP’s support will help NorthStar advance critical technology to fit within a high-performance payload architecture and accelerate the company’s long-term goal to deliver trusted SDA services to Canadian customers and allies.

About NorthStar Earth & Space

NorthStar Earth & Space is a space intelligence and data analytics company. NorthStar has launched a constellation of space-based sensors dedicated to the systematic and automated cataloguing of Earth orbital space. NorthStar provides commercial and defence customers with Space Situational Awareness (SSA) and 24/7 Space Domain Awareness (SDA) services.

NorthStar’s Space Information & Intelligence (Si²) Platform transforms diverse streams of space observation data into a continuous, real-time operational picture of the space domain. By detecting, tracking, and characterizing objects and threats as they emerge and evolve in orbit, the platform delivers actionable intelligence that enables operators and decision-makers to understand, assess, and respond to events as they happen.

With global headquarters in Montreal, Canada, a European headquarters in Luxembourg, and a dedicated U.S. operation in Virginia, NorthStar supports mission-critical operations for key defence and civil customers, including the Royal Canadian Armed Forces’ 3 Canadian Space Division (3 CSD), the U.S. Space Force’s Joint Commercial Operations Cell, DARPA, the Luxembourg Space Agency, and the European Space Agency.