Roles and leadership

Canada was an early adopter of space capabilities and was the third state to become space-faring with the launch of Alouette I, a Defence research satellite launched in 1962 to study the impact of the ionosphere on radio communications.

Today, Canada has over 50 active commercial, civil, and military satellites in orbit which are essential to the Canadian Armed Forces's (CAF) mission.

The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) is the authority for the Department of National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces (DND/CAF) Joint and Combined Space program for the Canadian Armed Forces. The RCAF is responsible for

• space domain awareness
• development, delivery and assurance of space-based capabilities in support of military operations both at home and abroad
• other space objectives outlined in Canada’s Defence Policy. This includes defending and protecting military space capabilities, including in collaboration with its allies and partners.

Space capabilities are critical for the day-to-day life of Canadians as well as for CAF operations. However, they are also increasingly vulnerable and threatened. With the emergence of new space technologies and the growing number of actors interested in the space domain, the space environment is becoming more congested, contested, and competitive, making it an increasingly difficult environment in which to operate. RCAF is leading efforts within DND/CAF to enhance the resilience of the space capabilities upon which our military rely for critical operations and ensure the continued delivery of space-based services.