On his first research trip to Chesterfield Inlet, Dr. Philip Ferguson, associate professor in the University of Manitoba’s Department of Mechanical Engineering, stood on the shore of Hudson Bay with his Space Technology and Advanced Research Laboratory (STARLab) team and area elders. In front of them, a ship sat docked in the water. While a common summer sight, its appearance was unexpected and unsettling.
The community members explained they didn’t know where the vessel had come from, how long it might stay or where it was going. Its arrival had scared away the belugas that live in the coastal waters and it left residents wondering whether its crew would come onto the land.
When the researchers asked the elders how they could help, they simply replied: ‘We just want to know when the ships are coming and where they are coming from.”
That heartbreaking answer prompted Ferguson to utilize his galaxy’s worth of aerospace engineering knowledge to collaborate with Canada’s Northern communities, creating down-to-earth solutions that drastically reduce digital inequity and give communities sovereignty over space-based data.
“Not a lot of people think of aerospace technology as accessible. That no one can make or afford a rocket unless you’re Elon,” he says. “But accessibility can mean lower time for development, lower cost solutions and exploring the use of the right technology to benefit people.”
Canada is a world leader in tracking ships from space. Yet, for Northern communities, that data never reaches those most affected by unannounced traffic, environmental changes and climate disruptions. Ferguson’s work focuses on breaking down those barriers and turning that model on its head.
This is the catalyst for ArcticSat, a first-of-its-kind collaboration between the STARLab team and the residents of Chesterfield Inlet. Set to launch next year, the project will deploy a CubeSat, a small, cost-effective satellite created at the U of M, designed to deliver accessible, locally-owned data from space.
“They are part of our team. We’re building the technology, but they are the operators, the researchers and the engineers. We are embracing co-development, having them create it for their own community,” says Ferguson.
For communities like Chesterfield Inlet that rely heavily on the land and sea for transportation, food and cultural stability, reliable communication and environmental data are essential. As climate change affects the sea ice, weather and migration patterns, access to accurate, timely data becomes critical for safety and ensuring a continued way of life.
Satellite data is just one piece of the solution. The STARLab team is also supporting communities in addressing a more immediate concern: connectivity. Across the North, limited infrastructure and dependence on U.S.-based broadband providers like Starlink not only limit basic communication, access to healthcare and education, and economic participation, but often fail to meet the unique needs of the people they’re meant to serve.
“What we think is important in the South is very different in the North,” says Ferguson, pointing to the loss of a local radio station, which would not only serve as a news source but let locals know about critical information, like who needs a babysitter for the night. Childcare aside, community-led data collection may look like identifying gravel in order to source rocks for roads.“When we go into a community, it’s about listening. It’s an honour to be in the community and learn what they know about the land.”
As hunters and trappers traverse the vast openness of the North, they currently have no handset data — in other words, they can’t use their phones — to stay connected or even check the weather. Many rely on Starlink’s technology, which is clunky, unreliable and runs out of power during longer expeditions.
Bring on the blimps. The STARLab team is currently building the prototype for an airship technology that could travel alongside community members. With the ability to lift mass, their speed would match the pace of people to bring along Starlink technology, and even descend when needed, to serve as a power bank. When in the air, it could relay critical remote sensory data, such as cracks in the ice or impending weather events, and allow for continued connection.
With all the benefits of the system, Ferguson has been in touch with Telesat to get on its proposed 200-satellite, Canadian-made network, in what has been described as Canada’s largest-ever space program.
Ferguson notes Starlink’s sparse coverage in Northern regions and Canada’s currently complicated relationship with the U.S. make developing homegrown satellite communications solutions imperative. And Manitoba is positioned to be a leader in the space.
The province’s aerospace legacy dates back to the launch of the first Black Brant sounding rocket from Churchill in 1959. It is now home to aerospace giants like Magellan Aerospace, Boeing, StandardAero and innovators like MicroPilot, a global leader in unmanned aerial vehicle autopilot systems, which highlights that the province has the talent, infrastructure and access to a global supply chain.
“We’re a maritime province. We need to get the most out of those nation-building projects to create technology that grows the economy and protects sovereignty. We have everything we need here in Manitoba to do it.”
