OVA and Canadian Space Agency Advance AI-Powered Training for Space Missions

Quebec City, Quebec – April 7, 2025 – OVA, a Quebec-based leader in immersive enterprise technologies, has been awarded an $849,000 contract by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) to advance Artificial Intelligence (AI) Agent technology for space training. This collaboration marks a significant step toward modernizing how astronauts and mission operators prepare for increasingly complex space operations.

“We aim to research and develop an agentic AI solution to deliver training on high-stakes operations involved in, but not limited to a space exploration context. This will open up new possibilities to improve how human and artificial intelligences can collaborate to perform complex tasks in a wide range of domains,” remarked Pierre-Luc Lapointe, Head of R&D.

The Canadian Space Agency has long been a leader in advancing space research and exploration, fostering innovation across Canada’s space sector. As missions grow more sophisticated—spanning operations with Canadarm2 on the International Space Station to the upcoming Canadarm3 on the Lunar Gateway—training methodologies must adapt to keep pace.

Current training models rely heavily on human instructors, creating limitations in scalability, efficiency, and accessibility. The partnership with OVA aims to address these challenges by developing a lifelike AI instructor capable of guiding trainees through complex procedures and scenarios in an interactive, hands-on environment. The AI agent is designed to adapt to varying skill levels, delivering tailored content based on the trainee’s current knowledge and performance.

“Very proud to be working with CSA on this. It’s a project focused around a dynamic capability – we’re not just building a training solution for one need, rather we’re building a training tool that adapts to many needs,” affirmed Tim Purdy, Project Manager.

The OVA system will be integrated into CSA’s HoloMOTS environment and deployed through the HoloLens 2, allowing trainees to experience realistic simulations in a controlled, immersive setting. This approach is expected to reduce the costs and logistical demands of traditional training methods while ensuring personnel are fully prepared for contemporary and future space missions.

Beyond cost efficiency, this AI-powered training solution aligns with CSA’s objectives to modernize operational readiness, enhance knowledge transfer, and ensure that personnel are equipped with the latest technological capabilities. By leveraging AI in training, CSA is creating a scalable, accessible framework that can grow alongside advancements in space robotics and mission operations.

This initiative underscores Canada’s leadership in space robotics and mission support technology, providing a pathway for more effective and efficient training that can meet the demands of modern space exploration.



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