Southern Launch fully approved for Whalers Way rocket pad in South Australia

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Southern Launch fully approved for Whalers Way rocket pad in South Australia
by Simon Mansfield
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Nov 04, 2024

Leading Australian spaceport provider Southern Launch has received full approvals for the Whalers Way Orbital Launch Complex, located on the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia. Construction of permanent facilities will now move forward, with the first launches planned for late 2025.

Southern Launch CEO Lloyd Damp emphasized the importance of access to space, noting, "Access to space is critical for humanity with many existing launch sites operating near capacity. The Whalers Way Orbital Launch Complex enables rapid access to orbit thanks to our favorable year-round weather and minimal sea and air traffic. Additionally, Southern Launch has secured all required approvals under Australian legislation, further removing obstacles to orbit for space companies."

The Whalers Way Orbital Launch Complex offers an impressive range of launch capabilities, supporting trajectories from 55 to 177 degrees, including polar, sun-synchronous, and 135-degree inclination orbits. The site will have two launch pads, vehicle assembly buildings, clean rooms, and integration facilities, allowing for up to 42 launches per year.

The approvals granted cover all environmental requirements, ensuring that rocket companies can use the site without needing additional assessments. Southern Launch will take full responsibility for maintaining compliance with environmental guidelines.

"Our approach is to provide customized services to help our customers meet their mission objectives," Lloyd added. "Our team takes care of all necessary approvals and safety measures, and our launch pads can be tailored or reserved for clients requiring frequent launches."

The complex includes tracking and telemetry infrastructure to monitor launches from liftoff through payload separation, and it is also capable of supporting hypersonic flight tests. "We have designed the Whalers Way Orbital Launch Complex with versatility in mind," Lloyd explained. "We understand that access to space is not one-size-fits-all. The complex has been developed in a location that enables different launch trajectories and azimuths so space technology companies can get to where they need to be."

In addition to Whalers Way, Southern Launch also operates the Koonibba Test Range, a sub-orbital launch site that is rapidly becoming a key location for returning space technology from orbit, with multiple missions planned for 2025. Together, these two spaceports-within 400km of each other-offer a comprehensive set of capabilities for the Australian space industry.