Image: MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (MDA)

Canada’s first military satellite is headed into orbit alongside six other satellites that were all launched aboard a single Indian rocket Monday morning.

The ‘Sapphire’ will increase Canada’s ability to protect its “assets and interests” in space and track man-made objects in orbit to avoid collisions, according to the Department of Defence.

A second Canadian satellite will help scientists keep track of meteors, asteroids and other space debris that could be heading towards earth.

Read the rest of the report at CTV News