ELA Update Archives

ELA successfully launches 3 rockets in 15 days

11 July, 2022 | ELA Update, Launch information, Media Releases | 0 comments

Equatorial Launch Australia (ELA) the developer, owner and operator of the Arnhem Space Centre (ASC) in Australia’s Northern Territory today successfully completed its third launch with NASA – the third launch in 15 days.

The NASA DEUCE mission will help astronomers measure an unstudied part of Centauri A and B’s ultraviolet light spectrum, helping them model stars and understand their effects on planetary atmospheres.

Michael Jones, Executive Chairman and Group CEO of ELA, said the successful launch was a great finale to the NASA campaign – consisting of three separate launches – that began on June 26.

“We are really proud to have achieved a very rare feat – three successful launches in just 15 days. Even more so given the challenging wind conditions,” Mr Jones said.

“We are also very pleased that the scientists involved with these launches are very happy with the results of the experiments,” Mr Jones added.

“Another successful launch at the Arnhem Space Centre further strengthens our team and builds the capability of the Australian space industry,” said Mr Jones.

“These missions with NASA have been an incredible chance to prove the capabilities of our team and facility and we are looking forward to welcoming more partners to the site.”

More information about the mission is available here.

SISTINE launch successful

6 July, 2022 | ELA Update, Launch information | 0 comments

Equatorial Launch Australia (ELA) the developer, owner and operator of the Arnhem Space Centre (ASC) in Australia’s Northern Territory today successfully completed its second launch with NASA on Wednesday 6 July 2022 at 11:13pm ACST.

The NASA SISTINE mission will help astronomers understand how starlight influences a planet’s atmosphere, possibly making or breaking its ability to support life as we know it.

Michael Jones, Executive Chairman and Group CEO of ELA, said the successful launch was a very exciting follow up to ELA’s first launch on 26 June.

“Tonight we were delighted to achieve another successful launch which further strengthens the capabilities of our team and of the Arnhem Space Centre,” said Mr Jones.

“We look forward to our third launch on 12 July and then onwards to the future of the Arnhem Space Centre and the Australian space industry.”

More information about the mission is available here.

Welcoming NASA Personnel

6 June, 2022 | ELA Update

This week we welcome more than 70 NASA – National Aeronautics and Space Administration personnel who will travel from NASA Wallops Flight Facility to support our three upcoming rocket launches at our Arnhem Space Centre this month.

This includes 15 science team members from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Colorado Boulder.

These will be the first NASA rocket launches from Australia since 1995, when launches were conducted from the Royal Australian Air Force Woomera Range Complex.

Stay tuned for more updates and news about the launches.

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ELA Executive Team On The Ground

7 May, 2022 | ELA Update

The Equatorial Launch Australia executive team were on ground last week at our Arnhem Space Centre in Nhulunbuy, East Arnhem Land.

The proximity of Arnhem Space Centre to the equator offers significant launch efficiencies and provides access to the full range of orbits. The secure ASC site will include utilities and facilities including payload integration, storage and administration.

Pictured here (L-R); Ben Tett, Russell Shaw, CFA, CA and Michael Jones were overseeing the final touches to the Arnhem Space Centre in anticipation of Australia’s first commercial space launch next month. They were also attending meetings with Traditional Owners and ranger groups from both the launch site and downrange areas coordinating payload and rocket stage recovery.

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ELA’s Arnhem Space Centre

7 May, 2022 | ELA Update

The night Launch of NASA’s BBIX rocket in June 2022 from ELA’s Arnhem Space Centre is coming…soon! This will be Australia’s first commercial space launch and the first ever NASA launch from a commercial spaceport. Three launches are planned over a six-week period in June/July 22 with rockets going to over 250km (250-310km) #australia into space and collecting images and spectral data on alpha centauri (4.56 m light years from the sun) and other space atmospheric phenomenon. Big shout out to the ELA team working round the clock with Australian Space Agency to finalise approvals and mission planning with NASA. Extremely proud to be part of this real space company!

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