Australia launches its largest commercial rocket

The Australian Space Agency announces the launch of one of the largest rockets commercially launched in Australia, the SR75, from the Koonibba Test Range in South Australia

On Friday, on the remote west coast of South Australia, a German private space launch company specializing in hybrid-fuel rockets, deployed its SR75 rocket via Southern Launch from the Koonibba Test Range, HyImpulse, according to the Australian Space Agency.

The mission, “Light This Candle,” is crucial for Australia’s commercial launch capabilities.

The maximum altitude for this high-performance rocket is 100 kilometers (62.14 miles) above sea level.

We are incredibly proud to have been a part of this historic mission. The Koonibba Test Range is world-class, and hosting this mission has demonstrated the outstanding expertise and experience of the Southern Launch and HyImpulse teams,” said Lloyd Damp, CEO of Southern Launch.

The Australian Space Agency’s Supply Chain Capability from the Moon to Mars Grant Program has awarded funding to Adelaide-based Southern Launch. Southern Launch will use the funding to develop a mobile launch rail for suborbital vehicles. The launch on Friday utilized the rail.

Australia is making significant investments in space technologies to become a prominent player in space exploration alongside other leading nations.

Following this launch, HyImpulse anticipates collaborating with the Australian government on its SL1 orbital launch vehicle. With a length of 33 meters and three stages, HyImpulse’s SL1 Launcher stands out for its compact size.

Source: Newsroom