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Australia’s rocket industry reaches a crucial inflection point

Australia’s rocket industry reaches a crucial inflection point

Local space entrepreneurs are attempting to take a slice of SpaceX’s business, as demand for launch services far outweighs supply.

Tess BennettTechnology reporter

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Varda Space Industries had a problem. The Californian start-up wanted to manufacture drugs in space – there was money to be made from pharmaceutical firms that wanted to process medication in microgravity.

It had a partner to get it up there – Elon Musk’s SpaceX – but it was not easy finding a place for its capsules to land. Utah had been the plan, but after eight months, permission to drop into the desert was not forthcoming.

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Tess Bennett
Tess BennettTechnology reporterTess Bennett is a technology reporter with The Australian Financial Review, based in the Brisbane newsroom. She was previously the work & careers reporter. Connect with Tess on Twitter. Email Tess at tess.bennett@afr.com

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Original URL: https://www.afr.com/technology/australia-s-rocket-industry-reaches-a-crucial-inflection-point-20241105-p5knzh