Canadian launch developer announces new rocket with 6-tonne payload capacity, building on planned orbital flight from Canadian soil in 2028.
LONGUEUIL, Québec — October 20, 2026 — Reaction Dynamics (RDX) today unveiled Borealis, its next-generation medium-lift rocket, designed to deliver 6 tonnes to low Earth orbit, with its first launch targeted for 2031.
The announcement establishes a two-vehicle roadmap for Canadian access to space: Aurora, targeting its first orbital flight from Canadian soil in Q4 2028, and Borealis, extending that capability to medium lift by 2031.
Both vehicles will leverage Reaction Dynamics’ transition to liquid propulsion, combining nearly a decade of expertise in storable propellants with a scalable engine architecture designed for commercial, civil, and national security missions.
The unveiling follows a successful rocket engine campaign involving 50 tests, including 21 liquid-fueled engine hot fires, building on more than 350 hot fires across the company’s previous propulsion programs. Orbital-scale engine hardware is now in manufacturing near Montreal, with testing scheduled to begin in November 2026.
“We founded Reaction Dynamics because we believe Canada should be able to reach orbit on its own terms. Nearly a decade of propulsion development, right here in Quebec, has given us the country’s largest launch vehicle team, the most capital raised by any Canadian launch company, and its most extensive propulsion testing heritage. Aurora is how we get to orbit in 2028. Borealis is how we deliver sovereign access to orbit, at scale, by 2031.”
Bachar Elzein, Founder and CEO, Reaction Dynamics
From Aurora to Borealis: Scaling Canada’s launch capability
Aurora will serve as both an orbital launch vehicle and the technological foundation for Borealis, advancing propulsion, avionics, flight software, manufacturing, and operational systems that can be scaled toward medium lift.
Rather than developing two independent programs, Reaction Dynamics is pursuing an integrated roadmap designed to leverage existing investments, accelerate development, and expand Canada’s domestic launch capacity.
Borealis will support larger spacecraft deployments, dedicated constellation launches, and sovereign missions requiring greater payload capacity and control over access to orbit.
Storable liquid propulsion: Built for Canada’s North
The technology combines scalable liquid propulsion with the operational advantages of storable propellants, catalytic ignition, and advanced engine manufacturing.
Unlike cryogenic propellants, the selected propellants are storable at ambient temperature and require no cryogenic cooling, offering the potential for simplified ground infrastructure, extended readiness, and more flexible launch operations.
These characteristics could enable responsive operations in Canada’s remote and northern regions, supporting future requirements for Arctic surveillance, secure communications, constellation replenishment, and national security.
Investing in Canada’s aerospace future
Since its founding in 2017, Reaction Dynamics has secured approximately CAD $50 million in private investment and public funding commitments and contributions to support propulsion development, manufacturing, testing, and launch infrastructure—the most of any Canadian launch company.
The company currently employs 68 people, with plans to grow to over 350 by 2031, creating highly skilled jobs across engineering, advanced manufacturing, and launch operations.
To support this expansion, Reaction Dynamics is planning approximately 375,000 square feet of manufacturing and integration capacity in Quebec, supported by plans to raise CAD $350 million in additional private investment through 2031.
The company is targeting an eventual Borealis launch capacity of 24 missions annually, supporting commercial satellite operators, government customers, and allied defence requirements. Reaction Dynamics is also engaged with prospective customers on dedicated launch services, constellation deployment, and replenishment missions.
Reaction Dynamics has developed a commercial pipeline representing more than US$5 billion in potential launch opportunities, supported by at least 10 agreements and letters of intent with satellite operators and institutional customers. The pipeline includes non-binding commitments and prospective missions at various stages of development.
Roadmap to 2031
Q4 2028: Targeted orbital flight of Aurora from Canadian soil.
2031: Targeted orbital launch of Borealis, bringing Canada’s domestic launch ambitions into the medium-lift class.
With Borealis, Reaction Dynamics is extending its mission beyond reaching orbit to building the industrial infrastructure and launch capacity required for Canada’s long-term commercial and strategic needs.
From Aurora in 2028 to Borealis in 2031, Reaction Dynamics is building Canada’s path to sovereign launch at scale.
About Reaction Dynamics
Founded in 2017 and headquartered in Longueuil, Québec, Reaction Dynamics is a Canadian aerospace company developing launch vehicles and propulsion technology for sovereign and commercial space missions.