Southern Launch

Southern Launch is the trading name of SouthernLaunch.space Pty Ltd, an Australian aerospace company focused on launch services and launch infrastructure. Based in Adelaide, South Australia, the company supports the preparation, integration, logistics, and operation of rocket missions carrying commercial, research, and government-related payloads. Its work is aimed particularly at the growing small-satellite and responsive-launch market, where dedicated launch opportunities can reduce the scheduling constraints associated with sharing a larger rocket with unrelated payloads. The company operates two launch locations on South Australia's Eyre Peninsula. The Koonibba Test Range, near the Aboriginal community of Koonibba and northwest of Ceduna, is intended primarily for sub-orbital missions. Its overland trajectory offers recovery and range-safety advantages because flight hardware can be recovered without a splashdown at sea. The range uses trajectories extending across sparsely populated conservation areas and operates with the permission and involvement of the Koonibba community. Local participation has included assistance with site preparation, road and traffic control, emergency-service coordination, and spectator safety. Southern Launch's second location is Whalers Way on the southern Eyre Peninsula, southwest of Port Lincoln. Its position near the Southern Ocean is suited to southerly trajectories toward polar and sun-synchronous orbits, with a long unobstructed flight path over ocean before Antarctica. Development and use of the site have depended on regulatory and environmental approvals. At the time described in the reference material, the company had constructed concrete launch pads at its leased sites while using other equipment in mobile form during launch campaigns. The company became associated with early Australian commercial spaceflight activity through its first Koonibba launches in September 2020. Two small DART rockets were used in those initial missions, which were described as Australia's first commercial, space-capable rocket launches. Southern Launch subsequently supported testing involving vehicles supplied by Taiwan-based TiSpace and its Australian subsidiary TASpace. The Kestrel family, derived from TiSpace's Hapith vehicle work, was designed for sub-orbital flight using hybrid propulsion. Southern Launch has also worked with South Korean company Perigee Aerospace on access to launch facilities and served as launch-service provider for Adelaide-based DEWC Systems, whose satellite activities included advanced sensing relevant to difficult-to-detect targets. In May 2024, HyImpulse's SR75 sub-orbital rocket completed its maiden flight from the Koonibba Test Range, adding another international launch-vehicle partner to Southern Launch's operational portfolio. The company has indicated an ambition to support a substantial annual launch cadence, subject to permanent approvals and the development of its leased sites. Its broader positioning combines Australian launch infrastructure with mission logistics, range operations, regulatory support, and access for domestic and overseas rocket developers. Southern Launch's expansion has also attracted environmental scrutiny. Concerns have been raised about possible effects on wildlife, including the southern emu-wren, as well as fire risks associated with rocket operations. The company has said that it prepared a large environmental impact assessment with specialist input, supported ecological research, pursued weed and feral-animal management, and planned emergency-response capabilities for any permanently approved site. These issues illustrate the balance between Australia's ambitions to develop a domestic launch industry and the ecological and community responsibilities of operating facilities in relatively undisturbed areas.

Southern Launch developed as part of Australia's effort to establish domestic commercial space-launch capability. Operating from Adelaide, the company built a business around providing launch infrastructure and operational support rather than manufacturing a single branded rocket. Its services include range management, payload and launch logistics, site preparation, safety coordination, and support for sub-orbital and orbital missions. The company established operations at two distinct South Australian sites. Koonibba, on the western Eyre Peninsula, was selected for sub-orbital testing and recovery-friendly overland trajectories. The range is near the Aboriginal township of Koonibba and uses Aboriginal land with the community's permission. Community members have participated in operational tasks such as access control, traffic management, emergency coordination, and spectator guidance. The site lies near conservation areas over which approved trajectories can extend. Whalers Way, at the southern end of the Eyre Peninsula, was selected for missions requiring southerly trajectories toward polar or sun-synchronous orbits. Its proximity to the Southern Ocean provides a long oceanward flight path, although the site has required continuing environmental and development approvals. The company's facilities have included concrete launch pads, with much of the additional launch equipment transported to the sites when campaigns were scheduled. Southern Launch's first recorded launch activity took place at Koonibba in September 2020, when two small DART rockets flew sub-orbital missions. These launches were described as the first commercial, space-capable rocket launches in Australia. The early program focused not only on demonstrating launch capability but also on testing propulsion, guidance, telemetry, structural systems, range procedures, and the environmental effects of launch operations. The company later became involved with TiSpace, a Taiwanese rocket developer, and its Australian subsidiary TASpace. Vehicles associated with this program included Hapith 1 and the Kestrel designation used for the Australian activity. The Kestrel 1 concept was a two-stage, hybrid-propellant sub-orbital vehicle intended to reach roughly the 100-kilometre boundary of space. Southern Launch also entered into an arrangement with South Korean company Perigee Aerospace concerning use of launch facilities and supported DEWC Systems, an Adelaide company developing satellite-based sensing capabilities. On 3 May 2024, HyImpulse's SR75 completed its maiden flight from Koonibba. The event demonstrated the range's continuing role as an Australian test location for overseas launch-vehicle developers. Southern Launch has stated an aspiration to support a high annual launch rate, but the realization of that goal depends on permanent government approvals, environmental permissions, and further site development. Environmental assessment has been a significant part of the company's history. Wildlife advocates have questioned whether launch activity could affect the southern emu-wren and other fauna, while fire hazards have also been raised. Southern Launch has described a substantial environmental impact statement, ecological research, weed and feral-animal control, native-vegetation restoration, and plans for dedicated first-response capability. The company's development therefore sits at the intersection of commercial space access, Aboriginal community relationships, government regulation, and conservation management.

• 2024

  SR75 maiden flight from Koonibba

  [1]Southern Launchen.wikipedia.org

  HyImpulse's SR75 sub-orbital rocket completed its maiden flight from the Koonibba Test Range on 3 May.

• 2022

  Whalers Way approval discussions

  [1]Southern Launchen.wikipedia.org

  The company pursued continued or permanent approval for launch-pad use at Whalers Way.

• 2021

  TASpace established in Adelaide

  [1]Southern Launchen.wikipedia.org

  TiSpace established the Australian subsidiary TASpace to support Australian manufacture and operation of its rocket vehicles.

• 2020

  First Koonibba launches

  [1]Southern Launchen.wikipedia.org

  Two DART rockets launched from Koonibba in September in missions described as Australia's first commercial, space-capable rocket launches.

An Australian launch-services and range-operations provider connecting domestic and international rocket developers with launch infrastructure in South Australia.

• Sub-orbital launch range

  Koonibba Test Range

  A South Australian test and launch range near Koonibba on the western Eyre Peninsula. It supports sub-orbital rocket missions and was selected partly because overland trajectories can simplify recovery and range management. The site has hosted DART and HyImpulse-related activity and operates with permission from the Koonibba community.

• Orbital launch site

  Whalers Way

  A launch location on the southern Eyre Peninsula, close to the Southern Ocean. Its southerly orientation is intended to support polar and sun-synchronous orbit missions. Development has involved temporary and proposed permanent environmental and government approvals, with a concrete launch pad supplemented by mobile launch equipment.

• Professional launch services

  Launch and mission support services

  Southern Launch provides infrastructure, range operations, launch logistics, safety coordination, and launch-service support for rocket developers and payload owners. The service is designed for commercial satellites, research payloads, and government-related missions requiring sub-orbital testing or orbital access.

• 2021

  Expand partnerships with international rocket developersStrategy

  Background

  Southern Launch sought to build launch activity by working with overseas vehicle developers and supporting Australian manufacturing initiatives.

  Action taken

  The company supported activity involving TiSpace, TASpace, and later other international launch-vehicle partners.

  Aftermath

  The partnership model broadened the range of vehicles tested or launched from Southern Launch facilities.

  Source

• 2020

  Launch the first DART rockets from KoonibbaProduct launch

  Background

  Southern Launch was developing and validating an Australian commercial launch range and needed early missions to test rocket and range systems.

  Action taken

  The company conducted two DART rocket launches from the Koonibba Test Range in September.

  Aftermath

  The missions established Koonibba as a commercial sub-orbital launch location and were described as Australia's first commercial, space-capable rocket launches.

  Source

• 2024

  HyImpulse SR75 completes maiden flight from Koonibba[1]Southern Launchen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch · Product generation

  HyImpulse's SR75 sub-orbital rocket successfully made its maiden flight from Southern Launch's Koonibba Test Range on 3 May 2024.

• 2022

  Whalers Way development faces environmental and approval scrutiny[1]Southern Launchen.wikipedia.org

  Regulation · Other

  Southern Launch pursued continued or permanent approval for the Whalers Way launch site while environmental concerns focused on wildlife impacts and fire risk.

• 2021

  Southern Launch works with TiSpace and TASpace vehicles[1]Southern Launchen.wikipedia.org

  Other · Product generation

  The company became involved with Hapith- and Kestrel-related sub-orbital rocket activity after TiSpace established the Australian subsidiary TASpace in Adelaide.

• 2020

  Southern Launch conducts first commercial, space-capable rocket launches in Australia[1]Southern Launchen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch · Other

  Two DART rockets were launched from the Koonibba Test Range in September, marking the first commercial, space-capable rocket launches described for Australia.

• 2020

  Southern Launch supports DEWC Systems launch activity[1]Southern Launchen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Southern Launch served as launch-service provider for Adelaide-based DEWC Systems, whose satellite program was associated with advanced sensing and tracking applications.

1. 1Southern Launchen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Southern Launch official websitesouthernlaunch.space