3 September, 2024 | ELA Update, Staff announcements
Equatorial Launch Australia (ELA), owner and operator of Australia’s leading spaceport, the Arnhem Space Centre (ASC), today announced Nina Patz as its new Head of Business Development. Nina’s appointment adds to the company’s senior commercial team as it approaches its next scheduled launches commencing in mid-2025 with South Korean rocket company, Innospace.
The role will be pivotal in developing customized launch contracts including launch, engine testing, payload and mission management, mission planning, and launch support services for international NewSpace commercial rocket companies looking to launch from the ASC. Patz will proactively identify and lead the conversion of commercial opportunities globally.
ELA Group CEO, Michael Jones, welcomed Nina to the team saying, “As ELA continues its schedule of discussions with international rocket companies, we are delighted to announce the appointment of Nina to help drive that process and to ensure we fill out our launch schedule through to the end of the decade.”
The ASC’s geographical and remote location provides an extremely attractive option for global launch vehicle companies requiring access to space. The site provides launch companies with a full-service spaceport solution and the ability to reach all orbits. The site features cutting-edge testing and launch facilities, access to fuel and gasses, TSA and ITAR compliant facilities including launch and mission control, onsite accommodation, and proximity to the nearby mining town of Nhulunbuy which offers the facilities and amenities of a large regional town.
The growing groundswell of international interest in the Australian Space sector as well as the recent advances, including the ratification of the Technology Safeguards Agreement with the United States, are collectively channelling rocket companies towards Australia who are looking at launching from the ASC.
“Nina’s role will be to work closely with our growing customer base to close out contracts we’ve been negotiating for some time and then help us deliver launch and spaceport services tailored to our customers’ mission requirements and provide them with the benefits of launching from a state-of-the-art, full-service spaceport.” said Jones.
“We have worked with Nina in her previous role and always admired her style, industry knowledge and professionalism, we are very lucky to have her join us,” said Jones.
Winner of ‘Launch Business of the Year’ in the 2024 Australian Space Awards and finalist in five Australian Space Awards categories, as well as finalist in the InnovationAus 2024 Excellence Awards (Defence, Dual-Use and Space), ELA is on track to be the pre-eminent multi-user commercial space launch company providing testing, launch, and recovery of space vehicles and payloads flown to and from all space orbits. The ASC is located in East Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, Australia, and is situated at 12 degrees south of the equator, providing rocket companies and their payload customers operational freedom and simplicity for their launch and mission design. The spaceport is being redeveloped into a multi-user commercial spaceport as well as having the potential to be used as a key infrastructure project for Australia’s sovereign space defence capability.
With a strong background in Business Development, Nina most recently worked with Australian aerospace company, Hypersonix Launch Systems. She was integral to the team that secured a US Department of Defense government contract through the Defense Innovation Unit in March 2023 against 62 global applicants.
“With ELA’s proven track record and exciting future ahead, I am thrilled to join the team as it enters its next phase,” Nina said. “I am grateful to be given this opportunity to work with a fantastic organisation such as ELA. I look forward to building ELA’s customer base as we build the spaceport of the future in northern Australia.”
5 June, 2024 | ELA Update, Staff announcements
Spaceport operator and launch technology infrastructure company, Equatorial Launch Australia (ELA), today announced ex-Royal Australian Air Force Officer, Joshua Daish, as its new Head of Arnhem Space Centre Site Operations. Mr Daish will also take up the Launch Operations Manager role in ELA’s Launch Operations team.
The recently established position will serve a critical role in the Phase Two redevelopment of ELA’s Arnhem Space Centre (ASC). Working closely with ELA’s CEO and within the leadership team, the role supports the company’s remit to further grow the spaceport into a world-class multi-user commercial launch facility. The new role will also be responsible for overseeing the development, preparation, and execution of spaceport activities in support of launch campaigns.
Group CEO of Equatorial Launch Australia, Michael Jones, welcomed Joshua by saying, “Joshua’s skills and knowledge of space, range and launch operations, as well as his 18 years of Royal Australian Air Force employment across multiple disciplines strengthens ELA’s executive talent by bringing additional operational aerospace expertise to the team as well as a deep understanding of space, aviation, safety management, and a broad technical base,’ he said.
“Josh is smart, hardworking and very talented and I am pleased to welcome him to the team. I am confident that his appointment will add considerable value to our customers and our staff as we move towards first launches from the redeveloped spaceport in 2025,’ said Mr Jones. “Josh will be integral in ensuring ELA lives up to our mantra of “You build the rockets; we’ll take care of the rest”.’
A key function of the role will be to act as a conduit between the ASC site support and operations team and ELA’s Launch Operations team and launch clients, while ensuring that the ASC’s facilities, equipment, and procedures allow for safe, effective and efficient launch activities.
With progress being made on the authorisation of the Technology Safeguards Agreement with the United States, as well as a growing groundswell of international interest in launching from the ASC, ELA is seeing a ‘turning of the tide’ as launch customers look to the company to help provide solutions to spaceport congestion overseas as well as key orbit options and mission and launch expertise.
“We’re experiencing a significant uptick in inbound enquiry for our services from the U.S., Europe and Asia,” said Mr Jones. “Our reputation as a world-leading spaceport with state-of-the-art facilities and our determination to provide seamless launch services for our customers is driving that interest. This is coupled with the fact that we are in deep discussions with multiple launchers to fill our remaining Space Launch Complexes – with launch companies realising they need to urgently secure a position at the ASC to guarantee their access.’
Mr Daish’s 18-year tenure with the RAAF has provided him with robust operational and leadership skills in highly technical and demanding aerospace environments, notably in Operations Management at Woomera Test Range Aerodrome which included supporting the return of JAXA’s Hayabusa 2 capsule and the first flight trials of BAE’s PHASA-35 and Boeing Defence Australia’s Loyal Wingman Uncrewed Combat Aircraft.
Mr Daish cited ELA’s strong focus on cutting-edge space launch technology and its approach to developing a spaceport that works seamlessly with customer mission objectives as some of the primary reasons for his move into the sector. “I have always had a keen interest in space even from a very young age; being able to play a critical role in the development and conduct of space activities within an Australian company such is ELA was a very attractive prospect,’ he said.
He will split his time between ELA’s headquarters in Adelaide’s CBD with extensive travel to the Arnhem Space Centre in East Arnhem Land.
ELA is well on track to be the pre-eminent multi-user commercial space launch company providing testing, launch and recovery of space vehicles and payloads flown to and from all space orbits. The newly crowned ‘Launch Business of the Year’ in the AusSpace24 Australian Space Awards, ELA owns and operates the Arnhem Space Centre, which is located in Australia’s Northern Territory, at 12o south of the equator – offering rocket companies and their payload customers multiple orbit options, operational freedom and simplicity for their launch and mission design.
