The Lower Eyre Peninsula and Australia are now one step closer to space — Southern Launch received approval for the construction of infrastructure to support a test launch campaign from Whalers Way, located on the tip of the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia.
The development application was approved by the State Commission Assessment Panel (SCAP), which includes the construction of a temporary rocket launch pad on already cleared land. The rocket launch test campaign will gather valuable scientific data to validate and calibrate computation noise and vibration modelling localized to this site. The proposed test launches will provide valuable data to assist both Southern Launch and government agencies to further assess the effect of the proposed development of a permanent rocket launch complex.
The application for the test launch campaign specified, that only up to three3 test launches would be conducted, that the infrastructure would not result in any permanent change in the land use or any permanent structures on the site, and that the launch pad would be built on an already cleared area and would not result in any native vegetation removal.
The date for the first test launch has not been confirmed, as Southern Launch are still in the regulatory process with the Australia Space Agency.
Lloyd Damp, Southern Launch CEO, said, “This is a huge milestone for Australia as we once again become a sovereign space faring nation. Southern Launch has spent the past 8 months working closely with government and independent agencies. With construction approvals in hand, the whole Southern Launch team are overjoyed and is excited about the future of launch in Australia. We look forward to breaking ground shortly. The Southern Launch team are very grateful for the overwhelming support we have received from the Port Lincoln and Lower Eyre Peninsula communities. We look forward to sharing the success of having a thriving space industry with Australia.”
Southern Launch is an innovative space company providing launch services, launch sites and bespoke rocket subsystems and designs to customers. In addition to the suborbital Koonibba Test Range, the company is also developing the Whalers Way Orbital Launch Complex located at the tip of the Eyre Peninsula to support orbital launches into the highly sought after polar and sun synchronous orbits. The Australian company is a privately owned and headquartered in Adelaide, South Australia. Southern Launch is committed to providing Australia with a world-class orbital launch complex, whilst simultaneously contributing to material habitat improvement, consequent biodiversity improvement and the long-term survival of local fauna and flora species.
