Skip to main content
RBC Thought Leadership AI, Technology and Innovation Space: The Low Earth Orbit Movement
AI, Technology and Innovation
AI, Technology and Innovation

Space: The Low Earth Orbit Movement

From Arctic sovereignty to wildfire response, Canada’s challenges are increasingly being solved from space.

From Arctic sovereignty to wildfire response, Canada’s challenges are increasingly being solved by the low earth orbital satellites less than 1000km from the earth’s surface.  In this episode, co-hosts John Stackhouse and Sonia Sennik dive into the pivotal role that satellite communications have in Canada’s future. Prompted by Prime Minister Mark Carney’s call for enhanced Canadian defense, the conversation explores how innovation in low earth orbit will shape global competitiveness and security.

Mike Greenley, CEO of MDA Space, offers a compelling look at how Canada’s satellite and robotics capabilities are fueling both surveillance and strategic infrastructure in space, including the next generation of the Canadarm. Dan Goldberg, CEO of Telesat, discusses their $6B Lightspeed constellation and how low Earth orbit networks will revolutionize broadband access across Canada and beyond. Finally, planetary scientist Dr. Margarita Marinova outlines a bold vision of an emerging space economy – from fire detection to lunar research, and what it means for Canadian innovation.

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Simplecast

Disruptors, an RBC podcast is created by the RBC Thought Leadership Group and does not constitute a recommendation for any organization, product or service. It’s produced and recorded by RBC Thought Leadership. Information presented is believed to be factual and up-to-date but we do not guarantee its accuracy and it should not be regarded as a complete analysis of the subjects discussed. All expressions of opinion reflect the judgment of the authors as of the date of publication and are subject to change. For cautionary statements relating to the information in this podcast, refer to the Legal Disclaimers on RBC.com/disruptors. For more disruptors content, like or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and visit our webpage.

Read This Next

Permission to Fail: A case for youth entrepreneurship

Ronnen Harary, co-founder of Spin Master, on why your 20s offer a unique entrepreneurial advantage and how AI is creating white space for agile founders.

The billion-dollar question: Where are all the Canadian biotech unicorns?

Biotech in Canada is admired in the lab but largely overlooked in capital markets

Digital Refineries: Data centres as Alberta’s new resource

Alberta's tech minister Nate Glubish on attracting AI data centres without subsidies, protecting the grid and turning natural gas into intelligence.

Important notice regarding information on this website and Caution regarding forward-looking statements

This website is intended as general information only and does not constitute an offer or a solicitation to buy or sell any security, product or service in any jurisdiction; nor is it intended to provide investment, financial, legal, accounting, tax or other advice, and such information should not be relied or acted upon for providing such advice. Nothing herein shall form the basis of or be relied upon in connection with any contract, commitment, or investment decision whatsoever. The reader is solely liable for any use of the information contained herein, and neither the Climate Action Institute, nor Royal Bank of Canada (“RBC”), its subsidiaries and its affiliates nor any of their respective directors, officers, employees or agents shall be held responsible for any direct or indirect damage arising from the use of any information contained herein by the reader.

Except as required by law, none of RBC nor any of its affiliates undertake to update any information on this website. All expressions of opinion on this website reflect the judgment of the authors as of the date of publication and are subject to change. We do not guarantee the accuracy of the information or expressions of opinion presented herein and they should not be regarded as a complete analysis of the subjects discussed. No endorsement of any third parties or their advice, opinions, information, products or services is expressly given or implied by RBC or any of its affiliates. All references to websites are for your information only. The content of any websites referred to on this website, including via website link, and any other websites they refer to are not incorporated by reference in, and do not form part of, this website.  This website is also not intended to make representations as to sustainability-related initiatives of any third parties, whether named herein or otherwise, which may involve information and events that are beyond our control.

From time to time, we make written or oral forward-looking statements within the meaning of certain securities laws, including on this website, and in other communications. Forward-looking statements on our website include, but are not limited to, statements relating to economic or sustainability-related objectives, vision, ambitions, commitments, goals, and targets as well as potential events and actions. By their very nature, forward-looking statements require us to make assumptions and are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties, which give rise to the possibility that our predictions, expectations or conclusions will not prove to be accurate, that our assumptions may not be correct, and that our economic or sustainability-related objectives, vision, ambitions, commitments, goals, and targets will not be achieved. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on these statements as a number of risk factors – many of which are beyond our control and the effects of which can be difficult to predict – could cause our actual results to differ materially from the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements. Sustainability-related metrics, data and other information contained on this website are or may be based on assumptions, estimates and judgements.