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The pride of Canada’s space program is scheduled to be launched on the same type of U.S. rocket that blew up on the weekend.

The Radarsat Constellation Mission, which will cost taxpayers $975 million, is to be launched in 2018 on the SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket.

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SpaceX, a private firm established by Canadian-South African high tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, suffered a setback on Sunday when its unmanned Falcon 9 rocket exploded shortly after take-off. It was carrying supplies to the International Space Station, or ISS.

The explosion is a reminder of the technical difficulties of space operations as well as of the limited avenues to launch satellites and other spacecraft, say analysts.

NASA is trying to outsource launches to private firms such as SpaceX.

India and Russia also provide such services to companies and nations but there is a strong demand for a spot on their rockets.

The Canadian government, however, is boycotting the use of Russian launchers because of Russia’s annexation of the Crimea from Ukraine and its support for separatist forces battling Ukraine’s government.