A few weeks ago, the Canadian government lifted a major barrier to commercial space launches in the country. This is yet another sign that the commercial space tech industry is ready for mainstream adoption and investment. Here’s a closer look at this latest development.
Canadian space launches
Canada has been at the forefront of space technology for decades. However, rockets have never launched from Canadian soil. That is despite the fact that Canada’s extensive coastline is well-suited to launch missions. Most of Canada’s coastline is rural, which is safer for rocket launches. Many spots are also situated on high altitudes, which makes polar launches possible.
This is why Canada is seen as a promising destination for future space missions.
On January 20th, 2023, the government announced the approval of a space launch port in rural Nova Scotia. Maritime Launch Services (OTC:MAXQF), the manager of the spaceport, can now start testing a suborbital mission this year before launching an orbital mission sometime in 2024.
MLS has several contracts with government space agencies and enterprise customers like Nanoracks and Reaction Dynamics. If its upcoming launch in 2024 is successful, Canada could grab a fraction of the multi-billion dollar space launch industry.
Canadian space stocks
The government’s embrace of the commercial space tech sector could be a tailwind for domestic tech stocks like MDA (TSX: MDA). The Brampton, Ontario-based company provides geointelligence, robotics and space operations, and satellite systems. It’s a legacy space tech company with a track record that includes iconic projects such as the Canadarm robotic system and RADARSAT-2 Earth observation satellite.
Now, the company is working on another version of the robotic arm (Canadarm3) for NASA’s Lunar Gateway missions. It’s also a key supplier of the satellites that power the latest iPhone Emergency SOS via satellite feature.
Altogether, the company has outstanding orders worth $1.4 billion on its books. Up to $650 million of that is due to be delivered this year. The company also expects to generate $130–$135 million in EBITDA this year.
MDA’s market value is $931 million. That means it’s trading at 1.4 times annual revenue and 6.7 times annual EBITDA. It’s a relatively undervalued space stock that should be on your radar.
Bottom line
The Canadian government is ramping up its efforts to support the domestic space tech industry. This year, the authorities approved a new space launch port and new regulations for space launch missions operating on Canadian soil. This is another indication that the industry has matured and deserves the attention of investors.
Domestic space tech company MDA already has a foothold in this rapidly expanding industry. The company has delivered iconic equipment for the International Space Station (ISS) and is now working on other iconic pieces of space infrastructure. The stock is undervalued and overlooked, which is why it deserves a spot on your watch list.
