Southern Launch signs re-entry agreement, hails landmark US deal

Southern Launch has hailed a landmark space agreement with the US as a “game-changer” in its quest to support major rocket launches from the Eyre Peninsula.

Southern Launch chief executive Lloyd Damp, left, with graduate engineers Matthew Willson and Farisha Jamal at the company’s facility in Hindmarsh. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Morgan Sette

Capsules used to transport pioneering medical treatments in space will land at Southern Launch’s Koonibba Test Range on the Eyre Peninsula next year under an agreement between the spaceport operator and US company Varda Space Industries.

California-based Varda is a pioneer in orbital pharmaceutical manufacturing, which uses the microgravity and vacuum conditions of space to produce goods that cannot be manufactured on earth.

As part of the agreement with Southern Launch it will use the Koonibba range to conduct a re-entry operation as soon as its second orbital mission scheduled for mid-2024.

Southern Launch chief executive Lloyd Damp said he hoped the deal was the first step towards South Australia becoming a global hub for in-space manufacturing.

“In-space manufacturing is the next evolution of humanity’s industrial capacity, and elements produced in-orbit have the potential to change the course of history,” he said.

Southern Launch's Koonibba launch site on the Eyre Peninsula. Picture: Supplied

“We are excited to be partnering with Varda Space Industries to bring this emerging industry to Australia through the Koonibba Test Range.

“The opportunities for South Australia are immense. It’s likely that by the end of this decade everyday Australians will use products with parts manufactured in orbit.

“This makes space the resource industry of the future and we have the potential to expand on Australia’s hi-tech manufacturing industry and develop the consumer end products right here in Australia.”

Australia’s fledgling space industry secured another boost last week with the signing of a Technology Safeguards Agreement between Australia and the US, paving the way to US rocket and satellite launches from Australia.

The agreement, which “provides the legal and technical framework” for US commercial space launch vehicles to launch from Australia, was signed during Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s visit to the US, and is expected to build closer ties between the two countries’ space ambitions.

“The TSA is a game-changer for Southern Launch,” Mr Damp said.

“The US space industry has been leading the space race for generations and this agreement will allow us to work closely with US space companies to facilitate launches or returns from our Australian sites.”

“This agreement will accelerate the development of the Australian space industry and we are excited about the opportunities this will bring to our nation.”

Southern Launch recently secured approvals to build a permanent commercial space launch facility at its Koonibba site – 40km north-west of Ceduna – which offers more than 23,000sq km of uninhabited land to accept the re-entry of in-space manufacturing capsules.

The company is also seeking state and federal government approvals for its orbital launch facility, Whalers Way, at the southern tip of the ­peninsula.

Mr Damp said that together the two sites could potentially accommodate the launch and subsequent return of in-space manufacturing vehicles.