Southern Launch finalises an agreement for South Australia’s first rocket launchpads

Concept layout for future Whaler’s Way Orbital Launch Complex showing the planned two launchpads (credit: Southern Launch)

Southern Launch has recently finalised approvals from the landowners for the construction of the first two rocket launch facilities for the Whalers Way Orbital Launch Complex, located on the tip of the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia. This takes the project one more important step closer to developing a space launch facility, offering rocket launches for both Australian and international organisations and companies.

With the advancement in satellite technology, more and more operators of small satellites are preferring dedicated launches over grouped launches. Operators are wanting to avoid constraints and delays of the other payloads on the same vehicle. Additionally, many of these small satellites are designed for polar and similar orbits, therefore requiring direct injection into space from launchpads close to the poles and with minimal interference with maritime and air traffic. It is estimated by several studies that some 600 launches will be performed yearly, using compact dedicated launches, further increasing to 1,000 launches within the next decade.

South Australia is primed to hold such launches due to its key location to the poles. Whaler’s Way Orbital Launch Complex will encompass over 6km of southward ocean frontage with over 3,000km of open ocean to the south. The site was selected by Southern Launch to maximize safety to people and the environment and as such no rocket will need to overfly delicate marine environments or any populated areas as they fly out over the Great Australian Bight to space. Additionally, the site allows direct injection into polar and sun synchronous orbits, at a greater launch frequency.

The leased area covers Southern Launch’s proposed safety exclusion zones for rocket launches in entirety within the site boundary, and does not impinge on any government, public or private land.

The future construction of the complex and operational activities will be of significant benefit to Eyre Peninsula community, the local economy and Australia more broadly. Furthermore, it will establish South Australia as a leading contributor to the global space economy and employment.

For suborbital rocket launches and testing of satellite subsystems, Southern Launch also offers the Koonibba Test Range. This range is located near the regional transportation hub of Ceduna along the Far West Coast of South Australia. The site boosts over 10,000km2 area, allowing for down-range flights of up to 145km. In September 2020, Southern Launch successfully launched two suborbital rockets from the Koonibba location.