Aboriginals win permission for Aussie launch site
August 6, 2023
By Chris Forrester
Australia’s Southern Launch and the Koonibba Community Aboriginal Corp have combined for a new space launch facility at the Koonibba Test Range in South Australia. Planning consent has been granted for the development.
Koonibba is about 586 kms northwest of state capital Adelaide. The Test Range was established in 2019 and is surrounded by an uninhabited wilderness protection area and the Yumbarra Conservation Park.
Koonibba is already one of the world’s largest privately owned rocket range. The first step on the site’s expansion is focussed on a launch pad and storage facilities. The site will also host a space observatory.
Koonibba Community Aboriginal Corp’s Chief Executive Corey McLennan says, “These [new] facilities will provide employment, investment and educational opportunities for the Koonibba community.”
It is expected that once operational the permanent facilities will contribute over $500,000 per annum for the Koonibba community. The project will also generate direct employment for members of the Koonibba Community and opportunities for other local contractors on the Eyre Peninsula.
Southern Launch CEO, Lloyd Damp, said: “The development of permanent, world-class facilities at the Koonibba Test Range will put Australia on the map as a space-faring nation. What we have to offer at Koonibba is unique, highly sought after and complements our orbital facility at Whalers Way. We have a long list of global customers ready to use the range and we’re excited about the incredible opportunities this presents for Koonibba and South Australia.”
Southern Launch has a number of missions set to launch from the range including the ReFEx mission in 2024 with the German Space Agency (DLR). The company also recently signed an MoU with UK based Space Forge to use the Koonibba Test Range as a re-entry point for their spacecraft. A number of other missions are also contracted to launch from the Koonibba Test Range later in 2023.