NASA’s NT mission rockets past key hurdle

NASA staff have slipped quietly into the Territory for a scoping mission as the Top End moves closer to being part of the trillion dollar international space industry

An artist’s impression of the East Arnhem Land Space launch facility. Picture:Supplied

NASA staff have slipped quietly into the Territory for a scoping mission as the Top End moves closer to being part of the trillion-dollar international space industry.

East Arnhem Land Gumatj chief executive officer Klaus Helms confirmed at a Minerals Council NT event this week that the NASA staff were visiting for talks and to inspect the proposed location of the Arnhem Space Centre.

NASA and Equatorial Launch Australia (ELA) say they are ready to launch their sounding rocket program in 2020 from the Arnhem Space Centre.

ELA will build a commercial spaceport in East Arnhem Land, with a suborbital rocket launch facility planned for the south west of Nhulunbuy.

An artist’s impression of the East Arnhem Land Space launch facility. Picture:Supplied

Chief Minister Michael Gunner revealed to the NT News on Friday that another major time-saving hurdle for the Space Centre has been conquered with the project not requiring an environmental impact assessment.

He said the Northern Territory Environment Protection Authority deemed that the centre would not have a significant environmental impact and did not require environmental impact assessment.

He said this would indicate to the global space industry that the Territory was open for business.

In March this year, Mr Gunner released the Territory Space Industry 2020 strategy, outlining the Government’s plans to grow the Territory’s space industry.

Equatorial Launch Australia CEO Carley Scott said NASA’s work with ELA was a big win for the local East Arnhem Land community.

JUST $1 a week: OUR best ever, amazingly cheap NT News subscription deal

“The Gumatj Corporation are pivotal and will continue to be at the forefront of discussions about how the site will progress, and how opportunities can be brought into the region for the Yolngu people as we all continue to grow together,” she said.

Mr Gunner said the Arnhem Space Centre would be a significant site in the Asia pacific region and would attract new business and investment opportunities to East Arnhem Land and the Territory.

“NASA’s selection of Equatorial Launch Australia and the Arnhem Space Centre site is another important and critical step for this exciting project, which has the potential to unlock new opportunities for the Gove Peninsula and drive the economic developm