US space agency NASA will launch three research rockets into space from a remote Australian private space port for scientific research. This will be NASA’s first blast off from a non-American commercial space port and first from Australia since 1995.
The rockets will be launched from the Arnhem Space Center, near the mining town of Nhulunbuy in the Northern Territory, between June 26 and July 12, said NASA and Equatorial Launch Australia, the owner of the launch pad.
The aim of the mission is to investigate heliophysics, astrophysics, and planetary science phenomena which are observable only from the southern hemisphere.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese arrived in Darwin after a short visit to Indonesia on Wednesday night and will announce the rocket launch with the NT Chief Minister, Natasha Fyles, on Thursday. Albanese stated that this project would bring together the global and indigenous industries to take Australia’s space sector into new beginnings. He added that “This is a really exciting project” and is not just about the rocket launch but also about signaling a message to the next generation Australians and, indeed, Australians of any age, to understand how important science is for Australia’s future.
