Wellcamp ‘spaceport’: Branson’s rockets to launch from Qld in landmark deal

Virgin Orbit rockets will be launched into space from a regional Queensland airport under a new landmark deal with billionaire Richard Branson. And locals will get a front seat to watch.

A regional airport best known for housing a politically fraught quarantine facility will become only the third site in the world to be used by Richard Branson’s Virgin Orbit to launch satellites into space.

Toowoomba’s Wellcamp Airport will join sites in Cornwall, England and California in accommodating satellite launches, using a rocket fired from a Boeing 747.

The first such launch is not expected to take place until 2024, once all regulatory approvals and licensing were in place.

Wellcamp Airport owner and Wagner Corporation chairman John Wagner said the deal came about as a result of Virgin Orbit’sinterest in establishing an Australian spaceport, and some help from the Queensland government.

Under the new deal, rockets will be attached to Boeing 747 jumbo jets and fired into space at 35,000ft over the Pacific Ocean, with a permanent “spaceport” to be developed at Wellcamp over three years.

Toowoomba is set to shoot for the stars after billion-dollar small satellite launcher Virgin Orbit announced Wagner Corporation’s Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport as the location for its next satellite launch site and spaceport. Picture supplied

Mr Wagner said Queenslanders will be provided a viewing point and could see the first plane ready for launch in just 18 months.

“We’re talking first launch in 18 months, that’s the aim but it is subject to getting all of the approvals,” Mr Wagner said.

“Virgin will bring a jumbo jet in and the rockets are all assembled at Wellcamp and put onto the aircraft.

“We have a lot of the infrastructure in place and plenty of land to look after everyone.”

Rockets will be attached to the base of a Boeing 747 aircraft and fired once the jet reaches the stratosphere at 35,000ft. Picture supplied

Wellcamp Airport was chosen by Virgin Orbit due to its ideal geo location, its commitment to become carbon neutral and its ability to provide ground equipment.

“Virgin had a good look at what we had to offer and the fact that we could offer more than most airports,” Mr Wagner said.

“The aerospace and defence precinct is really gathering a lot of interest now so they saw it as a major step in the right direction.”

Mr Wagner said the new partnership will be “a great thing for Queensland and Australia” in terms of job creation and tourism.

Toowoomba is set to shoot for the stars after billion-dollar small satellite launcher Virgin Orbit announced Wagner Corporation’s Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport as the location for its next satellite launch site and spaceport. Picture supplied

Although there are no plans to use the Wellcamp quarantine facility in relation to the rocket launch project, he hasn’t ruled out a potential future connection.

“We’ve been working with the state government and federal government for some time to bring this together,” he said.

“We’ve got a bunch of people in the wings that want to come to Wellcamp and we see it putting us on the world stage.”