ItB次元官网网址檚 hard to make things work in space, and even harder to make money there.

With a long history in the space industry and a pocketful of healthy companies, Canadians are good at both. But industry executives and experts say the country needs a booster to maintain an advantage in a sector poised to, well, skyrocket.

B次元官网网址淲e have a lot more experience having companies that make their way in space than a lot of countries do,B次元官网网址� said Iain Christie, a longtime space executive and analyst.

B次元官网网址�(But) weB次元官网网址檙e still dining out on work that was done 20 years ago.B次元官网网址�

Until about a decade ago, space was a place for government programs and large militaries. The costs were too high for other players.

But factors including miniaturization and the availability of off-the-shelf technology have drastically cut those costs. So has the entry of private launch companies.

In 2000, putting a satellite into orbit cost $25,000 per kilogram. Now, depending on which rocket carries the load, it could be as little as $4,000.

B次元官网网址淭he cost of technology and the cost of launch decreased,B次元官网网址� said Christie.

That created opportunity.

In 2011, Stephane Germain realized that increasing concern about greenhouse gas emissions was going to create demand to measure them, which can best be done from space.Today, his company GHGSat has six satellites in orbit, with another four planned over the next year. TheyB次元官网网址檙e able to measure gases such as methane with unprecedented resolution for both emitting companies and investors wanting to quantify their risk.

B次元官网网址淢iniaturization got to the point where you could do something useful with a very small satellite,B次元官网网址� Germain said. B次元官网网址淲e were looking for that opportunity (and) that wound up being GHG emissions.B次元官网网址�

ThatB次元官网网址檚 one side of the space economy. Another is building infrastructure.

In November, Canadensys Aerospace Corporation announced it would build a lunar rover for NASAB次元官网网址檚 next moon mission. Weeks before, MDA Ltd., which also operates satellites, announced the second sale of their Canadarm technology to a company building a private space station.

The importance of those sales goes well beyond their dollar value, said MDA CEO Mike Greenley. They put Canada where the puck is going.

B次元官网网址淭here are opportunities to invest in lunar infrastructure,B次元官网网址� Greenley said B次元官网网址� communications networks, electric vehicles, even space-based mining.

B次元官网网址淭here are a combination of new areas.B次元官网网址�

CanadaB次元官网网址檚 long history in space B次元官网网址� it was the third country to launch a satellite B次元官网网址� has also given it recognized expertise in techniques including synthetic aperture radar, which allows satellites to peer through clouds or at night with amazing accuracy.

It all adds up to an industry worth about $5.5 billion a year that employs about 23,000 highly trained Canadians, according to the Canadian Space AgencyB次元官网网址檚 most recent report.

But thatB次元官网网址檚 only a small piece of the global pie.

The European research agency Euroconsult pegged the entire value of the space economy B次元官网网址� launch rockets, satellite communications and Earth observation B次元官网网址� at about $500 billion in 2021. By 2030, Euroconsult says it will reach $860 billion.

If Canada wants a slice, it will have to sharpen its knife, said Ryan Anderson of the Canadian Space Society, a grassroots organization promoting space and space education.

B次元官网网址淐anada has lost its step in terms of market share,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e a victim of our own success.B次元官网网址�

While the countryB次元官网网址檚 space economy is good at generating promising startups, not enough of them find the wherewithal to grow, said Anderson. ThatB次元官网网址檚 the fault of both government and the investment community, he said.

B次元官网网址淐anadaB次元官网网址檚 not as ballsy or risky as some other investment pools,B次元官网网址� said Anderson.

Greenley agrees.

B次元官网网址淐anadaB次元官网网址檚 starting to drift behind a bit.B次元官网网址�

Greenley said that when the International Space Station was the big game in town, there were five space agencies involved. Now, he said, there are 21 countries taking part in NASAB次元官网网址檚 Artemis program to the moon.

He quotes the Euroconsult report that concludes CanadaB次元官网网址檚 share of the global space budget is half what it used to be.

B次元官网网址淎 lot of countries want in,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲e need to keep pace with the rest of the world.B次元官网网址�

Countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom have a high-level body to ensure the interests of the space economy remain in the forefront. Many in the Canadian industry say this country needs the same.

B次元官网网址淪omeone has to be bringing the importance of space to senior decision-makers in Ottawa,B次元官网网址� Greenley said. B次元官网网址淯ltimately, itB次元官网网址檚 a business environment but government does have a role.B次元官网网址�

Christie said the federal government needs to be much more consistently interested in space. Canada needs to move beyond funding individual projects and develop an overall plan for the industry.

B次元官网网址淭he federal government does not invest as much in space industry as they get in return,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淐anadian support for space is well down in the middle of the pack.B次元官网网址�

After all, he said, thereB次元官网网址檚 a tradition to defend. Canada has been leading the way in space for decades.

B次元官网网址淲e should spend a lot more time on a position that is hard-won.B次元官网网址�

Bob Weber, The Canadian Press

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