Concordia’s student-built rocket takes flight

After years of design, testing and determination, Starsailor has finally launched.

The 13-metre liquid-fuel rocket, designed and built by Space Concordia, a student society at Concordia’s Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science, cleared the launch rail and soared into the morning sky at 5:34 a.m. Less than a minute after liftoff, the rocket appeared to separate earlier than planned and the team is working on retrieving data to confirm the trajectory.

If the trajectory data confirms it reached space, the mission would be the first university-built liquid-fuel rocket in the world to reach space, the first space launch from Canadian soil in more than 25 years and the first ever achieved by a student team.

The Gina Cody School is a primary sponsor of the project. Gina Cody, namesake of the school, contributed $100,000 to help make the launch possible. The program has also received generous long-term support from Lorne Trottier and the Trottier Family Foundation, along with contributions from many other donors and sponsors.

The launch took place from a remote site in northern Quebec, about 250 kilometres north of the Cree community of Mistissini. The isolated location was selected for its vast open space and safe distance from populated areas.

The team had faced nearly a week of on and off rain, thunderstorms and winds before finally getting a launch window this morning, when the ground temperature hovered just above zero degrees Celsius.

Conducted during Transport Canada–approved launch windows, the mission temporarily established daily no-fly zones within a roughly 300-kilometre radius of the site, ensuring the required clear airspace for safe rocket operations. The launch window ran from August 8 to 18.

The launch also reflects a strong collaboration with the Cree Nation of Mistissini, where students worked closely with local leaders to ensure the mission respected the land and created opportunities for youth engagement through educational activities.

Starsailor was powered by a custom-built engine, capable of reaching speeds of more than five times the speed of sound. It carried a payload including an on-board flight computer, cameras and memorabilia.

Over 700 Concordia students have contributed to the Starsailor program since its inception in 2018. The project is led by the Rocketry Division of Space Concordia and has grown into one of the most advanced student rocketry initiatives in the world.

A feature-length documentary about Starsailor is in production. It follows the student team’s journey from design to launch and explores the project’s wider impact in both Montreal and Mistissini.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.

Relive the launch by watching the Space Concordia live stream recording below: