Students from Concordia University’s Space Concordia Rocketry Division and the Cree community of Mistissini are launching a liquid-fueled rocket into space. The rocket—named Starsailor and adorned with Cree syllabics in honour of Chikabesh—will be launched from the plane landing strip of a now-defunct mining company. Global News reports that 700 students have contributed to the project, building many parts in Concordia’s makerspace. If the launch is successful, it will be the first space launch from Canada in more than 25 years, and the first led by students. “For me, it’s an exciting opportunity for our community to be a part of something this historic,” said Mistissini council member Pamela MacLeod. “Some of our legends around this Chikabesh[, …] we’ve heard these growing up. To link it to this project, I think [it’s] important for our community.”
