Countdown to liftoff: NASA scientists to head to Nhulunbuy for first Australian launch in 26 years

For the first time in 26 years, NASA will carry out a space launch in Australia, and its chosen launch site is a small township in outback NT.

IT’S one small step for man but one giant leap for Territorians as NASA scientists make their way to the Arnhem Space Centre on Friday.

After spending 14 days at the Howard Springs quarantine facility, the 27 NASA scientists from the US will head to Nhulunbuy to begin work on a space launch.

It will be the first NASA launch in Australia since 1995, when six sounding rockets were launched the Woomera Instrument Range in South Australia.

The NASA team will spend the next six weeks in Nhulunbuy working with Equatorial Launch Australia (ELA) preparing for the mid-2022 rocket launches.

COUNTDOWN to liftoff - Artist impression of NASA’s launch pad in Arnhem land. Picture: ASC ESA Gabbert Design

NT CLP Senator Sam McMahon said the exciting opportunity would create new and innovative jobs for Territorians.

“The Morrison Government is working hard to expand our commercial space sector, and this means more jobs for Territorians,” Senator McMahon said.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner said the Territory was excited to see the world’s most famous scientists meet the world’s oldest continuous living culture.

“NASA will add capacity and blast Arnhem Land into the spotlight for investors; growing our industry and creating more jobs for Territorians,” Mr Gunner said.

NASA chose to partner with ELA that operates a space center 12 degrees south of the equator on the land of the Yolngu people.

During next year’s campaign, NASA will launch three two-stage Black Bant IX sounding rockets carrying scientific instruments into space.

COUNTDOWN to liftoff — The NT launch site will become the first non-government facility in the world to launch NASA rockets for science and research. Picture: ASC ESA Gabbert Design.

The purpose of the missions is to conduct astrophysics research and provide scientists the opportunity to observe astronomical objects that cannot be observed from the northern hemisphere rocket ranges currently used by NASA.

Head of the Australian Space Agency Enrico Palermo said it was the first time NASA had launched rockets at a commercial facility outside of the US.

“The fact they’ve picked Australia reflects the momentum we are currently seeing in our local space sector,” Mr Palermo said.

“We are passionate about growing a thriving space industry, one that can open doors for our national space sector to launch technologies from home and attract greater investment from international launch customers.”

The campaign is part of the federal government’s $700m investment in the civil space sector.

Originally published as Countdown to liftoff: NASA scientists to head to Nhulunbuy for first Australian launch in 26 years