SpaceWorks signs MoU with Southern Launch to use Koonibba Test Range for Re-Entry Devices (RED) returns.
L-R: John Bradford CEO SpaceWorks, Rebecca Darcey COO Southern Launch and Enrico Palermo Head of the Australian Space Agency
South Australia is emerging as the place for in-space manufactured technology to return to Earth with leading US company SpaceWorks Enterprises signing a Memorandum of Understanding with Southern Launch at the international Space Symposium.
SpaceWorks is an aerospace company manufacturing advanced space transportation systems, including a line of atmospheric Re-Entry Devices (RED) to enable low-cost, autonomous re-entry of payloads from Earth orbit.
The Koonibba Test Range, located in South Australia offers over 41,000 square kilometres of uninhabited land (15,800 square miles, an area significantly bigger than the state of Maryland) to accept the returns of space technology from orbit.
Southern Launch CEO Lloyd Damp says, ‘This MoU with SpaceWorks well and truly showcases to the world that Australia is the place for in-space manufactured technology to return to Earth. We have the land, the expertise and a regulatory framework that enables us to accept the returns of this ground-breaking technology for our customers.’
“Over the last 5 years, we have been advancing the requisite technologies for our RED vehicles,” said Dr. John Bradford, CEO of SpaceWorks, “We are looking forward to working with Southern Launch and Australia as we take another step towards our planned operational capability.”
SpaceWorks’ RED product line is led by Mr. Tyler Kunsa, Vice-President for Defense and Space Systems. Mr. Kunsa stated “With this next phase in our development process, we will continue to pursue our goal of offering the lowest price payload return capability from orbit. Current delivery services are far too expensive to enable commercial product development and open up the space frontier. We aim to change that.”
SpaceWorks RED vehicle suborbital high-altitude drop test and recovery
The MoU will establish a collaborative relationship between SpaceWorks and Southern Launch to investigate facilitating the return of the SpaceWorks RED vehicles to the Koonibba Test Range. SpaceWorks are currently developing their range of RED vehicles which will enable on-demand cargo return from space.
‘Southern Launch provides an end-to-end solution for companies wanting to return their technology from orbit,’ Lloyd explains. ‘We handle everything from regulatory approval to logistics which means our customers can focus on ensuring their technology returns to Earth safely.’
Southern Launch also operates the Whalers Way Orbital Launch Complex which is located 400 kilometres from the Koonibba Test Range. The ability to receive returns from space close to an orbital launch facility enables in-space manufacturing companies to get their technology back into orbit faster.
The Koonibba Test Range is jointly operated by the Koonibba Community Aboriginal Corporation and Southern Launch.
ABOUT SOUTHERN LAUNCH
Southern Launch is a launch and range service provider, headquartered in Adelaide, South Australia. Southern Launch operates the Koonibba Test Range and Whalers Way Orbital Launch Complex.
The Koonibba Test Range is one of the largest commercial rocket testing facilities in the world. The range is used to launch sub-orbital missions and accept re-entries of space technology.
The Whalers Way Orbital Launch Complex at the tip of the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia supports high-cadence orbital launches into the highly sought after polar and sun synchronous orbits.
Southern Launch expands space exploration from the Southern Hemisphere with end-to-end launch services for every space mission.
ABOUT SPACEWORKS
SpaceWorks Enterprises, Inc. (SEI), based in Atlanta, Georgia, is an aerospace engineering company that specializes in leading edge space and flight product development, advanced aerospace concepts, systems engineering, software development, and economic consulting to enhance engineering design and analysis for a broad and diverse customer base. For over 20 years, SpaceWorks has been dedicated to advancing the state-of-the-art in the commercial space sector from early design phases to flight demonstration. For more information, please visit www.spaceworks.aero.
