Engineering grad Rahul Goel prepares for Canada’s first-ever commercial rocket launch 

Rahul Goel at the NordSpace manufacturing facility in Markham, Ontario. Photo courtesy of NordSpace. 

The excitement at NordSpace is ramping up, as the Canadian space company prepares to launch the first suborbital flight of its Taiga rocket. If successful, it will mark the first Canadian commercial rocket launch from a private Canadian spaceport.  

An earlier attempt last fall was delayed due to a technical challenge with the rocket’s cryogenic propellants. “Building the most complex commercial rocket developed in Canadian history, in less than a year, on a fully self-funded budget and a small team has been an incredible experience,” says Rahul Goel (BASc 2016), the CEO and founder of NordSpace. “We can’t wait to get back to our spaceport in Newfoundland and launch Taiga to close this chapter.”  

The goal for a sovereign Canadian space program

Goel founded NordSpace in 2022 with a goal to build and launch rockets from Canada, part of his vision for a sovereign Canadian space program.  The company is also developing larger rockets – the Tundra and the Titan – and is working on the launch of its first satellite next year.  

“We have so many other missions running at the same time. Taiga is just one of several projects that we’re excited to be working on,” says Goel.  “Our first launch attempt gave our team the information and experience to move on to our orbital launch vehicle, Tundra.” 

During his time at U of T, Goel has been able to nurture his passions for both aerospace and entrepreneurship. Having graduated from Engineering Science with a major in Aerospace Engineering, Goel is currently pursuing his PhD at the University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies (UTIAS), studying under Professor Jonathan Kelly.  

U of T instrumental in building his companies

Goel also credits U of T for support in launching his first established company, PheedLoop, which provides end-to-end solutions for event management. The company has been operating for more than a decade and has a long list of clients in academia, government and the private sector.  

Early in PheedLoop’s development, Goel connected with The Entrepreneurship Hatchery, U of T Engineering’s startup incubator that helps students turn ideas into ventures. He says that the organization played a key role in helping him build the initial business case.  “U of T Engineering and the Hatchery gave me discipline and structure in my life, and mentorship. I think those things really helped make me into who I am today,” says Goel.   “The Hatchery has developed a unique methodology that encourages student founders to think big and act big,” says Joseph Orozco, mentor and the executive director of The Entrepreneurship Hatchery.  

Nurturing the entrepreneurial spirit

Goel's entrepreneurial journey truly embodies that spirit – understanding value creation and executing a vision. We are proud of his accomplishments so far, and excited for those still to come. The Hatchery continues to support current student entrepreneurs inspired by his journey.”  

Goel’s long-held passion for space took a business turn when he noticed how Canada’s lack of sovereign launch capability pushes many engineers to work overseas.  “I started noticing that Canadian talent was leaving, and commercial space companies in other countries were racing ahead and pushing their nations further, whereas Canada was not paying attention to this,” says Goel. "My anchor was always space because it was cool and unexplored, and there was adventure and risk in it, but now I’m very focused on it from the perspective of jobs, economic development, national security and Canada’s reputation in the world.”  

Goel says he has always had a knack for trying to solve problems nobody else seemed to care about. “I’ve always been in these positions where I’ve had to start initiatives because no one else was doing it,” he says. “I’m the type of person that really struggles when I see something that should be done, not being done. I just have to do something about it and that sort of gave me that entrepreneurial spirit.”