Southern Launch has signed a new agreement with US-based SpaceWorks Enterprises, Inc. to host multiple re-entry missions at the Koonibba Test Range in South Australia.
The agreement enables SpaceWorks to advance its portfolio of atmospheric Re-Entry Devices (RED) and adds to activity at the Koonibba Test Range for the return of spacecraft and payloads.
Southern Launch CEO Lloyd Damp says, “SpaceWorks are developing re-entry capsules for the return of payloads manufactured in space. Southern Launch offers world leading expertise and infrastructure to support their missions. We look forward to welcoming their capsules back to Earth at the Koonibba Test Range.”
SpaceWorks is developing a line of atmospheric Re-Entry Devices (RED) designed to provide low-cost, autonomous return of payloads from Earth orbit. The first recovery operation under this agreement will support SpaceWorks’ upcoming Commercial Orbital System for Microgravity Crystallization (COSMIC) demonstration mission, funded in part by a NASA TechLeap Prize and a NASA SBIR Phase III contract.
“This partnership with Southern Launch represents an important step forward in the commercialisation of our RED reentry systems,” said Dr. John Bradford, CEO of SpaceWorks Enterprises. “The scale, favorable conditions, and operational flexibility of the Koonibba Test Range provides a world-class environment as we bring reliable, cost-effective reentry and recovery services to the commercial space market.”
SpaceWorks’ RED product line provides small reentry systems designed to return high-value payloads from space, supporting commercial, scientific, and defense missions including material testing, flight environment profiling, and in-space manufacturing.
Under the agreement, Southern Launch will support SpaceWorks’ missions through the provision of end-to-end range services, including regulatory approvals, range operations, airspace and maritime coordination, tracking, and recovery operations.
The Koonibba Test Range has completed multiple orbital returns in the past year. Southern Launch operates the Koonibba Test Range in partnership with the Koonibba Community Aboriginal Corporation.
