State government declares Abbot Point site ‘suitable’ for small-scale rocket launches

An orbital rocket launch site at Abbot Point north of Bowen has found it is ‘suitable for small-scale launch vehicles’ in a major boon for the region and emerging industry.

The Whitsundays will facilitate Queensland’s first foray into the multi-trillion-dollar global space industry, after a feasibility study found a site at Abbot Point, north of Bowen, is suitable for rocket launches.

The state government announced a technical and environmental investigation into a potential orbital rocket launch site near Abbot Point in July last year, and the results suggest the site is “suitable for small-scale launch vehicles”, according to an update today.

Deputy Premier Steven Miles said the government was committed the development of launch infrastructure, and keen to work with private investors and local stakeholders on a plan for the Abbot Point site, with venture-backed Gilmour Space Technologies already expressing significant interest.

Mr Miles said the government’s aim was to “position the state to have the potential to meet longer-term, broader industry requirements” and this may result in multiple launch facilities being developed, likely along the coast.

“Having multiple launch facilities would be a huge drawcard for Queensland, which would undoubtedly bring more global players and jobs to the state,” he said.

Queensland’s Strategic Defence Advisor for Aerospace, Air Vice-Marshal Neil Hart said there was considerable interest in leveraging the geographic advantage of an east coast launch from low latitudes.

“Identifying a site along the Queensland coast with the potential to launch multiple and large payloads to a range of nationally significant orbits would be a significant contribution to Australia‘s growing space capabilities,” Mr Hart said.

Announcing Abbot Point as a potential launch site last year, then State Development Minister Kate Jones said the development would help create 6000 jobs in the state’s burgeoning space industry.

Whitsunday Regional Council Mayor Andrew Willcox said the project represented exciting opportunities for the region in terms of boosting both employment and tourism.

Cr Willcox’s hopes for the Abbot Point development included a space museum, simulators, and eventually, manufacturing facilities.

“When it happens, we expect thousands of people to come and watch the launches, and hopefully they’ll stay and enjoy our restaurants and accommodation and everything else the region has to offer,” Cr Willcox said.

Gilmour Space co-founder and Head of Launch Operations James Gilmour said the Gold Coast-based company was hoping to conduct its first launches of small satellites into low earth orbits early next year, but that was subject to securing the relevant approvals.

Customers already lined up included a ‘space taxi’ by Sydney-based Space Machines Company and a fire detection satellite by Fireball International, another Queensland company on the Sunshine Coast, Mr Gilmour said.

“A launch site at Abbot Point in North Queensland would give our customers a range of valuable orbits, inclinations, and altitudes that they will require,” he said.

“With sufficient and timely support, I see no reason why we can‘t be demonstrating key sovereign space capability next year, launching our first Australian-made rocket, with Australian payloads, from an Australian launch site.”