- US space agency NASA will be making its way to Australia later this month to launch a series of rockets
- NASA will be launching three rockets from the Arnhem Space Centre on the Dhupuma Plateau over one month
- The missions will investigate heliophysics, astrophysics and planetary science phenomena only observable from the southern hemisphere
- This will be the first time NASA will launch its rockets from a commercial facility outside its home in the US and will also be the first NASA rockets launched from Australia since 1995
- Northern Territory Chief Minister Natasha Fyles said this announcement is a “landmark occasion for the Top End”
US space agency NASA will be making its way to Australia later this month to launch a series of rockets.
The NASA rockets will be launching from the Northern Territory into space around June 26 to July 12 in a “history-making moment” for Australia’s space sector.
Three rockets will be launched from the Arnhem Space Centre on the Dhupuma Plateau.
This will be the first time NASA will launch its rockets from a commercial facility outside its home in the US. They will also be the first NASA rockets launched from Australia since 1995, when launches were conducted at the Royal Australian Air Force Woomera Range Complex.
It is expected around 75 NASA workers will be in Australia for the launches and the missions will investigate heliophysics, astrophysics and planetary science phenomena only observable from the southern hemisphere.
NASA has a “clean range policy” which means everything involved in the launch will be removed from the site and returned to the US.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Australia has been celebrating the space industry since the 1950s.
“As a nation we have to build on that legacy. This project will bring together global and local industry to take Australia’s space sector into a new era,” he said.
Meanwhile, Northern Territory Chief Minister Natasha Fyles said the announcement is a “landmark occasion for the Top End.”
“We have backed this project from inception, which I have seen firsthand, and now we’re less than a month away from seeing the launch of NASA’s first sounding rocket from the Arnhem Space Centre,” she said.
“NASA is adding capacity and rocketing East Arnhem Land into the global spotlight for investors—this will help our industry grow, create more jobs for locals and more opportunities for businesses to expand.”