Blast off ... for now: NT quest to join space race through Arnhem Land space centre hit by approval delays

THE company behind the move to blast rockets into space from a base in the Top End has had to abandon its 2020 launch plans

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STILL coming to grips with the potential loss of Darwin’s six-star hotel development and hundreds of jobs, the peak body representing the Territory business community is now having to digest threats to plans for a Top End space industry.

It has been confirmed that Equatorial Launch Australia (ELA), the company behind the plan to launch rockets from East Arnhem Land, has had to abandon its 2020 launch plan until the middle of next year.

NT Chamber of Commerce chief executive Greg Ireland said while the organisation was still optimistic the delay was only temporary, it was a setback for the East Arnhem region.

Mr Ireland said the project would be important for the region’s economic growth.

ELA chief executive Carley Scott says the company’s contract with NASA to launch sounding rockets from the planned Arnhem Space Centre could be in jeopardy if the Australia Space Agency does not sign off on the approval to launch next year.

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

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She said the process with the Australia Space Agency was at a pivotal point with approvals for the Arnhem Space facility and for the rockets that would be sent up by NASA, still to overcome hurdles.

“This is a one trillion dollar industry that we are uniquely positioned to get into,” she said.

Ms Scott pointed to the speed with which overseas space agencies signed off on approvals.

“You might see some really significant campaigns go through a 180 day process to see launches approved.

“We really need to demonstrate our regulatory system is right on par with what is seen around the world.

“The Space Agency has done a lot of fantastic work in the two years it has been up and running, but if these approvals aren’t made efficiently, there’s a lot at stake.

“The NASA contract needs to stay on track, we think it will and we think the agency is working with us.

“The process needs to continue efficiently. They can’t leave a $5 billion launch industry sitting on a desk. Now is the time for those approvals to come to play.”

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Chief Minister Michael Gunner said he had met with the Australian Space Agency.

“And we’ve been talking with ELA as well,” he said.

“We are working together to get this done, and I’m confident it is on track.”