The space race between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War is well documented, but few are aware that Canada, too, was an early contender in space exploration. Indeed, in 1962, Canada bested the more powerful United Kingdom to become the third nation to reach outer space.

Defence and Discovery presents the first comprehensive investigation into the origins, development, and impact of Canada’s space program. Through meticulous research, including newly declassified material, it demonstrates the central role of the military in Canada’s early space research. Moreover, it reveals the technological, political, and strategic implications of the country’s early innovation in space-research technology, and its subsequent turn from this arena.

A striking contribution to Canada’s military and political history, Defence and Discovery illuminates a significant yet understudied period in Canada’s growth as a nation.